Green, green, The grass by the river-bank. Thick, thick, The willow trees in the garden. Sad, sad, The lady in the tower. White, white, Sitting at the casement window. Fair, fair, Her red-powdered face. Small, small, She puts out her pale hand. Once she was a dancing-house girl, Now she is a wandering man's wife. The wandering man went, but did not return. It is hard alone to keep an empty bed.
Esquisses
by Alan Rawsthorne (1905 - 1971)
1. Green, green, the grass by the river‑bank [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), no title, first published 1919
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., 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.
Confirmed with A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems translated by Arthur Waley, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1919, in Seventeen Old Poems, no. 2.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. Waltz [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Of this day's glorious feast and revel The pleasure and delight are difficult to describe. Plucking the lute they sent forth lingering sounds, The new melodies in beauty reached the divine. Skilful singers intoned the high words, Those who knew the tune heard the trueness of their singing. We sat there each with the same desire And like thoughts by each unexpressed: "Man in the world lodging for a single life-time Passes suddenly like dust borne on the wind. Then let us hurry out with high steps And be the first to reach the highways and fords: Rather than stay at home wretched and poor For long years plunged in sordid grief."
Text Authorship:
- by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), no title, appears in A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems, in Seventeen Old Poems, no. 4
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) possibly by Mei Cheng (d. c140 BCE) [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
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.
Confirmed with A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems translated by Arthur Waley, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1919, in Seventeen Old Poems, no. 4.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. Polka [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
In the north-west there is a high house, Its top level with the floating clouds. Embroidered curtains thinly screen its windows, Its storied tower is built on three steps. From above there comes a noise of playing and singing, The tune sounding, oh! how sad! Who can it be, playing so sad a tune? Surely it must be Ch'i Liang's[4] wife. The tranquil "D" follows the wind's rising, The middle lay lingers indecisive. To each note, two or three sobs, Her high will conquered by overwhelming grief. She does not regret that she is left so sad, But minds that so few can understand her song. She wants to become those two wild geese That with beating wings rise high aloft.
Text Authorship:
- by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), no title
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
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.
Confirmed with A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems translated by Arthur Waley, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1919, in Seventeen Old Poems, no. 5.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 305