Little brook! Little brook! You have such a happy look- Such a very merry manner, as you swerve and curve and crook- And your ripples, one and one, Reach each other's [hands]1 and run Like laughing little children in the sun! [ ... ] Little brook-sing a song Of a leaf that sailed along Down the golden-braided center of your current swift and strong, And a dragon-fly that lit On the tilting rim of it, And rode away and wasn't scared a bit. Little brook, sing to me: Sing about a bumblebee That tumbled from a lily-bell and grumbled mumblingly, Because he wet the film Of his wings, and had to swim, While the water-bugs raced [round]2 and laughed at him! [ ... ] And sing-how oft in glee Came a truant boy like me, Who loved to lean and listen to your lilting melody, Till the gurgle and refrain Of your music in his brain Wrought a happiness as keen to him as pain. Little brook-laugh and leap! Do not let the dreamer weep; Sing him all the songs of summer till he [sink]3 in softest sleep; And then sing soft and low Through his dreams of long ago- Sing back to him the rest he used to know!
Twelve Songs , opus 91
by Richard Stöhr (1874 - 1967)
1. The Brook Song  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by James Withcomb Riley (1849 - 1916) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
1 Stöhr: "hand"
2 Stöhr: "around"
3 Stöhr: "sinks"
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler
2. The Frosted Pane  [sung text checked 1 time]
One night came Winter noiselessly, and leaned Against my window-pane. In the deep stillness of his heart convened The ghosts of all his slain. Leaves, and ephemera, and stars of earth, And fugitives of grass, — White spirits loosed from bonds of mortal birth, He [drew them on]1 the glass.
Authorship:
- by Charles George Douglas Roberts (1860 - 1943), "The Frosted Pane" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
1 Stöhr: "drew on"
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler
3. Time of Roses  [sung text checked 1 time]
It was not in the Winter Our loving lot was cast; It was the time of roses - We pluck'd them as we [pass'd]1! [That]2 churlish season never frown'd On early lovers yet: O no - the world was newly crown'd With flowers [when first we]3 met! 'Twas twilight, and I bade you go, But still you held me fast; It was the time of roses - We pluck'd them as we pass'd!
Authorship:
- by Thomas Hood (1799 - 1845), "Time of Roses", from Literary Souvenirs, first published 1827 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900, Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed., 1919.
1 Stöhr: "passed" (only here, not in stanza 3)2 Stöhr: "The"
3 Arditti: "when we"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. The Fountain  [sung text checked 1 time]
Into the sunshine, Full of the light, Leaping and flashing From morn [till]1 night; Into the moonlight, Whiter than snow, Waving so flower-like When the winds blow; Into the starlight Rushing in spray, Happy at midnight, Happy by day; Ever in motion, Blithesome and cheery, Still climbing [heavenward]2, Never aweary; Glad of all weathers, Still seeming best, Upward or downward. Motion thy rest; Full of a nature Nothing can tame, [Changed]3 every moment, Ever the same; Ceaseless aspiring, Ceaseless content, Darkness or sunshine Thy element; Glorious fountain. Let my heart be Fresh, changeful, constant, Upward, like thee!
Authorship:
- by James Russell Lowell (1819 - 1891), "The Fountain", from Poems, first published 1844 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Stöhr: "to"
2 Stöhr: "heavenwards"
3 Stöhr: "Chang'd"
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
5. The Boy Patriot  [sung text checked 1 time]
I want to be a Soldier! -- A Soldier! -- A Soldier! -- I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of [the]1 band; I want to hear, high overhead, The Old Flag flap her wings While all the Army, following, In chorus cheers and sings; I want to hear the tramp and jar Of patriots [a]2 million, As gayly dancing off to war As dancing [a]3 cotillion. I want to be a Soldier! -- A Soldier! -- A Soldier! -- I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand [Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of the band. I want to see the battle! -- The battle! -- The battle! --]3 I want to see the battle, and be in it to the end; -- I want to hear the cannon clear their throats and catch the prattle Of all the pretty compliments the enemy can send! -- And then I know my wits will go, -- and where I should'nt be -- Well, there's the spot, in any fight, that you may search for me. So, when our foes have had their fill, Though I'm among the dying, To see The Old Flag flying still, I'll laugh to leave her flying! I want to be a Soldier! -- A Soldier! -- A Soldier! -- I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of the band.
Authorship:
- by James Withcomb Riley (1849 - 1916), "The Boy Patriot" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
1 Stöhr: "my"
2 Stöhr: "the"
3 omitted by Stöhr.
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler
6. Curfew  [sung text checked 1 time]
Solemnly, mournfully,
Dealing its dole,
The Curfew Bell
Is beginning to toll.
Cover the embers,
[And put]1 out the light;
Toil comes with the morning,
And rest with the night.
Dark grow the windows,
And quenched is the fire;
Sound fades into silence,--
All footsteps retire.
No voice in the [chambers]2,
No sound in the hall!
Sleep and oblivion
Reign over all!
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "Curfew", appears in The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems, first published 1845 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Stöhr: "Put"
2 Stöhr: "chamber"
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
7. In the Train  [sung text checked 1 time]
As we rush, as we rush in the train The trees and the houses go wheeling back, But the starry heavens above the plain Come flying on our track All the beautiful stars of the sky, The silver doves of the forest of Night Over the dull earth swarm and fly Companions of our flight. We will rush ever on without fear; Let the goal be far, the flight be fleet For we carry the Heavens with us dear, While the earth slips from our feet!
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), "In the Train" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]8. Trees  [sung text checked 1 time]
I think I shall never see A poem lovely [as]1 a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.
Authorship:
- by Joyce Kilmer (1886 - 1918), "Trees" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
1 Stöhr: "like"
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler
9. The Old  [sung text checked 1 time]
They are waiting on the shore For the bark to take them home: They will toil and grieve no more; The hour for release [hath]1 come. All their long life lies behind Like a dimly blending dream: There is nothing left to bind To the realms that only seem. They are waiting for the boat; There is nothing left to do: What was near [them]2 grows remote, Happy silence falls like dew; Now the shadowy bark is come, And the weary may go home. By still water they would rest In the shadow of the tree: After battle sleep is best, After noise, tranquillity.
Authorship:
- by Roden Berkeley Wriothesley Noel (1834 - 1894), "The Old" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
1 Stöhr: "has"
2 Stöhr: "that"
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler
10. March  [sung text checked 1 time]
Blossom on the plum, Wild wind and merry; Leaves upon the cherry, And one swallow [come]1. Red windy dawn, Swift rain and sunny; Wild bees seeking honey, Crocus on the Lawn; Blossom on the plum, Grass begins to grow, Dandelions come; Snowdrops haste to go After last month's snow; Rough winds beat and blow, Blossom on the plum.
Authorship:
- by Nora Hopper (1871 - 1906), "March" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with The Open Road: A Little Book for Wayfarers, compiled by E. V. Lucas, London, Grant Richards, 1899, page 42.
1 Stöhr: "comes"Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Mike Pearson , Johann Winkler
11. Autumn Song  [sung text checked 1 time]
My life is but a leaf upon [the]1 tree- A growth upon the stem that feedeth all. A touch of frost-and suddenly I fall, To follow where my sister-blossoms be. The selfsame sun, the shadow, and the rain, That brought the budding verdure to the bough, Shall strip the fading foliage as now, And leave the limb in nakedness again. My life is but a leaf upon [the]1 tree; The winds of birth and death upon it blow; But whence it came and [whither]2 it shall go, Is mystery of mysteries to me.
Authorship:
- by John Banister Tabb (1845 - 1909), "Autumn Song" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
1 Stöhr: "a"
2 Stöhr: "whether" (typo?)
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler
12. Girlhood  [sung text checked 1 time]
With rosy cheeks, and merry-dancing curls, And eyes of tender light, O, very beautiful are little girls, And goodly to the sight! Here comes a group to seek my lonely bower, Ere waning Autumn dies, - How like the dew-drops on a drooping flower, Are smiles from gentle eyes! What beaming gladness lights each fairy face The while the elves advance, Now speeding swiftly in a gleesome race, Now whirling in a dance! What heavenly pleasure o'er the spirit rolls, When all the air along Floats the sweet music of untainted souls, In bright, unsullied song! The sacred nymphs that guard this sylvan ground May sport unseen with these, And joy to hear their ringing laugh resound Among the clustering trees! With rosy cheeks, and merry-dancing curls, And eyes of tender light, O, very beautiful are little girls, And goodly to the sight!
Authorship:
- by John Godfrey Saxe (1816 - 1887), "Girlhood" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Confirmed with The Knickerbocker, vol. 35, New York, 1850.
Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler