Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old - This knight so bold - And o'er his heart a shadow Fell as he found No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado. And, as his strength Failed him, at length, He met a pilgrim shadow - "Shadow," said he, "Where can it be - This land of Eldorado?" "Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the shadow, Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!"
Thy Distant Fire: an Edgar Allan Poe Songbook
by Derek Healey (b. 1936)
1. Eldorado  [sung text not yet checked]
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Eldorado"
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Evening star  [sung text not yet checked]
'Twas noontide of summer, And mid-time of night; And stars, in their orbits, Shone pale, thro' the light Of the brighter, cold moon, 'Mid planets her slaves, Herself in the Heavens, Her beam on the waves. I gazed awhile On her cold smile; Too cold- too cold for me- There pass'd, as a shroud, A fleecy cloud, And I turned away to thee, Proud Evening Star, In thy glory afar, And dearer thy beam shall be; For joy to my heart Is the proud part Thou bearest in Heaven at night, And more I admire Thy distant fire, Than that colder, lowly light.
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Evening star", appears in Tamerlane and Other Poems, first published 1827
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. To F:  [sung text not yet checked]
Beloved! amid the earnest woes That crowd around my earthly path -- (Drear path, alas! where grows Not even one lonely rose) -- My soul at least a solace hath In dreams of thee, and therein knows An Eden of bland repose. And thus thy memory is to me Like some enchanted far-off isle In some tumultuous sea -- Some ocean throbbing far and free With storms -- but where meanwhile Serenest skies continually Just o'er that one bright island smile.
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "To F--", written 1845, first published 1845 [an adaptation]
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Stéphane Mallarmé) , "À F.", appears in Les Poèmes d'Edgar Poe, first published 1889
Published by the Broadway Journal in 1845, first in the April issue, then cut down to four lines in the September 6 issue with the title "To Frances" (Frances S. Osgood). See also To M--.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. Sancta Maria!  [sung text not yet checked]
Sancta Maria! turn thine eyes - Upon the sinner's sacrifice, Of fervent prayer and humble love, From thy holy throne above. At morn - at noon - at twilight dim - Maria! thou hast heard my hymn! In joy and wo - in good and ill - Mother of God, be with me still! When the Hours flew brightly by, And not a cloud obscured the sky, My soul, lest it should truant be, Thy grace did guide to thine and thee; Now, when storms of Fate o'ercast Darkly my Present and my Past, Let my Future radiant shine With sweet hopes of thee and thine!
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Sancta Maria!"
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. To the River  [sung text not yet checked]
Fair river! in thy bright, clear flow Of crystal, wandering water, Thou art an emblem of the glow Of beauty -- the unhidden heart -- The playful maziness of art In old Alberto's daughter; But when within thy wave she looks -- Which glistens then, and trembles- Why, then, the prettiest of brooks Her worshipper resembles; For in his heart, as in thy stream, Her image deeply lies -- His heart which trembles at the beam Of her soul-searching eyes.
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "To the river", appears in The Raven and Other Poems, first published 1845
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]6. To Zante  [sung text not yet checked]
Fair isle, that from the fairest of all flowers, Thy gentlest of all gentle names dost take! How many memories of what radiant hours At sight of thee and thine at once awake! How many scenes of what departed bliss! How many thoughts of what entombed hopes! How many visions of a maiden that is No more- no more upon thy verdant slopes! No more! alas, that magical sad sound Transforming all! Thy charms shall please no more- Thy memory no more! Accursed ground Henceforth I hold thy flower-enameled shore, O hyacinthine isle! O purple Zante! "Isola d'oro! Fior di Levante!"
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "To Zante", appears in The Raven and Other Poems, first published 1845
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]7. Serenade  [sung text not yet checked]
So sweet the hour, so calm the time I feel it more than half a crime, When Nature sleeps and stars are mute, To mar the silence ev'n with lute. At rest on ocean's brilliant dyes An image of Elysium lies: Seven Pleiades entranced in Heaven Form in the deep another seven: Endymion nodding from above Sees in the sea a second love. Within the valleys dim and brown, And on the spectral mountain's crown, The wearied light is dying down, And earth, and stars, and sea, and sky Are redolent of sleep, as I Am of thee and thine Enthralling love, my Adeline. But list, O list, - so soft and low Thy lover's voice tonight shall flow, That, scarce awake, thy soul shall deem My words the music of a dream. Thus, while no single sound too rude Upon thy slumber shall intrude, Our thoughts, our souls -- O God above! In every deed shall mingle, love.
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Serenade"
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Researcher for this page: Martin Jahn8. Lines on Ale  [sung text not yet checked]
Filled with mingled cream and amber, I will drain that glass again. Such hilarious visions clamber Through the chamber of my brain. Quaintest thoughts, queerest fancies Come to life and fade away. What care I how time advances; I am drinking ale today.
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Lines on Ale", written 1848
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]