Four Songs

by (Henry) Walford Davies, Sir (1869 - 1941)

1. There is a Lady sweet and kind  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
There is a Lady sweet and kind,
Was never face so pleased my mind;
I did but see her passing by,
And yet [I]1 love her till I die.

Her gesture, motion and her [smiles]2,
Her wit, her voice, my heart [beguiles]3;
[Beguiles]3 my heart, I know not why,
And yet [I]1 love her till I die.

Her free behavior, winning looks,
Will make a Lawyer burn his books;
I touched her not, alas! not I,
And yet [I]1 love her till I die.

Had I her fast betwixt mine arms,
Judge you that think such sports were harms;
Were't any harm? No, no, fie, fie!
For I will love her till I die.

Should I remain confinèd there
So long as Phœbus in his sphere,
I to request, she to deny,
Yet would I love her till I die.

[Cupid is winged and doth range
Her country so my love doth change;
But change she earth or change she sky,
Yet will I love her till I die.]4

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, found on back of leaf 53 of Popish Kingdome or Reigne of Antichrist; published in 1607 in Thomas Ford's Music of Sundry Kinds

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

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1 Baxter: "I'll"
2 Parry, Purcell: "smile"
3 Parry, Purcell: "beguile"
4 Baxter: 
Cupid has wings and he does range;
So if her land my love does change,
But change she earth or change she sky, 
And yet I'll love her till I die.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Wander‑thirst  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Beyond the East the sunrise, beyond the West the sea,
And East and West the [wanderlust]1 that will not let me be;
It works in me like madness, dear, to bid me say good-by!
For the seas call and the stars call, and oh, the call of the sky!

I know not where the white road runs, nor what the blue hills are,
But man can have the sun for friend, and for his guide a star;
And there's no end of voyaging when once the voice is heard,
For the [river calls and the road calls, and oh, the call of a bird]2!

Yonder the long horizon lies, and there by night and day
The old ships draw to home again, the young ships sail away;
And come I may, but go I must, and if men ask you why,
You may put the blame on the stars and the sun and the white road and the sky!

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with The Home Book of Verse, Volume 3, by Burton Egbert Stevenson, Project Gutenberg.

1 Price: "wander-thirst"
2 Price: "rivers call, and the roads call, and oh! the call of the bird"

Researcher for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. A lift on the way

Language: English 
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

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4. The Night‑Watch

Language: English 
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Total word count: 338