There is a word of grief the sounding token. There is a word bejewelled with bright tears. The saddest word fond lips have ever spoken, a little word that breaks the chain of years. Its utterance must ever bring emotion, the memories it crystals cannot die. 'Tis known in every land, [on]1 every ocean, 'tis called Goodbye.
10 Songs , opus 96
by Richard Stöhr (1874 - 1967)
1. Good bye  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Am Foo Lin , "Good bye"
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Stöhr: "in"
Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler
2. The Rainy Day  [sung text not yet checked]
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary ; It rains and the wind is never weary; The vine still clings to the mouldr'ng wall, But at every gust the dead leaves fall, And the day is [dark]1 and dreary. My life is cold, and dark, and dreary; It rains and the wind is never weary; My thoughts still cling to the mould'ring Past, But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast, And the days are [dark]1 and dreary. Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Behind the clouds is the sun still shining; Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.
Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "The rainy day", appears in Ballads and Other Poems, first published 1842
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Ernst Eckstein) , "Der Regentag", subtitle: "(Nach dem Englischen von H.W. Longfellow.)", appears in In Moll und Dur, in 3. Dritte Abtheilung
- GER German (Deutsch) (Ferdinand Höfer) , "Der Regentag"
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Popular Poetry: a selection of pieces old and new, adapted for general use, London, Burns & Lambert, 1862, page 119.
1 Ascham: "cold"Research team for this page: Barbara Miller , Johann Winkler
3. Distance, the Enchantress  [sung text checked 1 time]
The sails we see on the ocean are white as white can be, but never one in the harbour as white as the sails at sea. And the clouds that crown the mountain with purple and gold delight turn to cold gray mist and vapor before we can reach its height. Stately fair the vessel that comes not near the beach, Lofty and grand the mountain, whose height we may never reach. Oh distance, thou dear enchantress, still hold in thy magic veil the glory of far-off mountains, the gleam of the far-off sail.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
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Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler4. Lullaby  [sung text checked 1 time]
Sleep sweet within this quiet room, [O thou, whoe'er thou art]1, And let no mournful [yesterdays]2 Disturb [thy peaceful heart]3. Nor let tomorrow [mar]4 thy rest With dreams of coming ill: Thy Maker is thy changeless friend, His love surrounds thee still. Forget thyself and all the world, Put out each [garish]5 light: The stars are [shining]6 overhead -- Sleep sweet! Good night! Good night!
Authorship:
- by Ellen Maria Huntington Gates (1835 - 1920), "Lullaby"
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Stöhr: "Keep closed thy yearnful eyes"
2 Stöhr: "yesterday"
3 Stöhr: "thee ere thou rise"
4 Stöhr: "scare"
5 Stöhr: "feverish"
6 Stöhr: "watching"
Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler
5. Unsatisfied  [sung text checked 1 time]
An old farmhouse with meadows wide, And sweet with clover on either side; A bright-eyed boy who looks from out The door, with woodbine wreathed about, And wishes this one thought all the day: "Oh, if I could but fly away From this dull spot, the world to see, How happy, how happy, I would be." Amid the city's constant din A man who round the world has been; Who 'mid the tumult and the throng Is thinking, thinking all day long: "Oh, could I only tread once more The field path to the farmhouse door, The old green meadows could I see, How happy, how happy I would be."
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Unsatisfied"
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Confirmed with Weekly Messenger, 1922, December 22, page 7.
Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler
6. Gradatim  [sung text checked 1 time]
Heaven is not reached at a single bound;
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth, to the vaulted [skies]1,
And we mount to its summit round by round.
I count this thing to be grandly true:
That a noble deed is a step toward God,
Lifting the soul from the common clod
To a purer air and a broader view.
We rise by the things that are under feet;
By what we have mastered of good and gain;
By the pride deposed and the passion slain,
And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet.
Wings for the angels, but feet for men!
We may borrow the wings to find the way —
We may hope, and resolve, and aspire, and pray;
But our feet must rise, or we fall again.
[ ... ]
Heaven is not reached at a single bound;
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit, round by round.
Authorship:
- by Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819 - 1881), "Gradatim", written 1872
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Stöhr: "sky"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
7. The Silent Town  [sung text checked 1 time]
A town lies in the valley a pale day fades and dies and it will not be long before neither moon nor starlight night only fills the skies. From all the mountain ridges creeps mist and swathes the town No farm no house no wet red roof can pierce the thickly worry woof scarce even spires and bridges But as the wanderer shudders deep down a streak of light rejoices his heart and through the smoke and haze children’s voices begin a gentle hymn of praise
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel (1863 - 1920), "Die stille Stadt"
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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]8. Blacksmith Pain  [sung text checked 1 time]
Pain is a blacksmith, Hard is his hammer; With flying flames His hearth is hot; A straining storm Of forces ferocious Blows his bellows. He hammers hearts And tinkers them, With blows tremendous, Till hard they hold. — Well, well forges Pain. — No storm destroys, No frost consumes, No rust corrodes, What pain has forged.
Authorship:
- by Jethro Bithell (1878 - 1962), "Blacksmith Pain"
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 - 1910), "Schmied Schmerz", appears in Irrgarten der Liebe. Verliebte, launenhafte und moralische Lieder, Gedichte und Sprüche aus den Jahren 1885 bis 1900, in Gedichte, in In Gleichnissen
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]9. The Message  [sung text checked 1 time]
Up, boy! arise, and saddle quick, And mount your swiftest steed, And to King Duncan's castle ride O'er bush and brake with speed. There slip into the stable soft, Till one shall see you hide, Then ask him: Which of [Duncan's]1 girls Is she that is [a]2 bride? And if he say, The [dark-haired]3 one, Then give your mare the spur; But if he say, The [fair-haired]4 one, You need not hurry her. You only need, if [that's the case]5, Buy me a hempen cord, Ride slowly back and give it me, But never speak [a]6 word.
Authorship:
- by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904), "The message", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 26, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Die Botschaft", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Junge Leiden, in Romanzen, no. 7
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Stöhr: "the Duncan's"
2 Allitsen: "the"
3 Allitsen: "dark-hair'd"
4 Allitsen: "fair-hair'd"
5 Allitsen: "that be so"
6 Allitsen: "one"
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
10. Winter Trees  [sung text checked 1 time]
The final leaf has fallen. Now along the street the trees are darkly pencilled with snow about their feet, sternly at attention through the cold they rise, tall unbending sentinels against the winter skies. Often I remember how they guarded me, as I walked in summer beneath their canopy. Now the empty branches cannot shield from snow; still they guard a promise for those who walk below. All the bitter season curl within their veins little leaves for opening down the April lanes.
Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)
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Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler