Lyrics from the Chinese ; 8 settings of ancient lyrics

Song Cycle by Phyllis Batchelor (1915 - 1999)

1.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Ah, let it drift, that boat of cypress wood,
       There in the middle of the Ho.
       He was my mate,
And until death I will go desolate.
Ah Mother! God!
How is it that ye will not understand?

Ah, let it drift, that boat of cypress wood,
       There in the middle of the Ho.
       He was my King.
I swear I will not do this evil thing.
Ah Mother! God!
How is it that ye will not understand?

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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 Lyrics from the Chinese by Helen Waddell, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913, page 2.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The dew is heavy on the grass,
At last the sun is set. 
Fill up, fill up 
The cups of jade. 
The night's before us yet ! 
All night the dew will heavy lie
Upon the grass and clover . 
Too soon , too soon , the dew will dry , 
Too soon the night be over

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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 page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

3.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The swallows take their flight 
Across the ford . 
My lady goes from sight ; 
And I must bring her on her way , 
Yet leave her ere the close of day , 
So wills her lord . 
The swallows take their flight , 
Again they come . 
My lady goes from sight ; 
And far must I escort her to the South , 
From whence no springtime wind nor summer drouth 
Shall bring her home

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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 page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

4.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
My lord is gone away to serve the King.
The pigeons homing at the set of sun
Are side by side upon the courtyard wall,
And far away I hear the herdsmen call
The goats upon the hill when day is done.
But I, I know not when he will come home.
         I live the days alone.

My lord is gone away to serve the King.
I hear a pigeon stirring in the nest,
And in the field a pheasant crying late.
–She has not far to go to find her mate.
There is a hunger will not let me rest.
The days have grown to months and months to years,
         And I have no more tears.

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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 Lyrics from the Chinese by Helen Waddell, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913, page 23.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

5.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The moon is shining on this borderland ,
Just as it will be shining on Lung-t’ow.
The sea is very quiet on the sand ;
I wonder what the folk are doing now.

The wild geese settle with the same old cry ,
The moonlight sleeps upon the threshold stone.
The millet in the field is shoulder high ,
And my young wife goes up the path alone.

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Confirmed with Helen Waddel, Lyrics from the Chinese, New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1919, p.38


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

6.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The rushes on the marsh are green,
   And in the wind they bend.
I saw a woman walking there,
   Near daylight's end.

On the black water of the marsh,
   The lotus buds swim white.
I saw her standing by the verge
   At fall of night.

All the long night I lie awake,
   And sleep I cannot find.
I see her slim as any rush
   Sway in the wind.

I shut my eyes and see again
   The whiteness of her throat,
On the black water of the night
   Like lotus float.

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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 Lyrics from the Chinese by Helen Waddell, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913, page 17.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

7.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The morning glory climbs above my head,
Pale flowers of white and purple, blue and red.
          I am disquieted.

Down in the withered grasses something stirred;
I thought it was his footfall that I heard.
          Then a grasshopper chirred.

I climbed the hill just as the new moon showed,
I saw him coming on the southern road.
          My heart lays down its load.

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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 Lyrics from the Chinese by Helen Waddell, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913, page 5.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

8.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
White clouds are in the sky.
Great shoulders of the hills
Between us two must lie.
The road is rough and far.
Deep fords between us are.
   I pray you not to die.

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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 Lyrics from the Chinese by Helen Waddell, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913, page 40.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 578