When twilight comes with shadows drear, I dream of thee, of thee dear one; and grows my soul so dark and sad as shadows drear, They tell me not to grieve love, for thou wilt come, But oh! I can not tell why I fear their words are false: I dream of theee, I dream of thee, love! And thou art near till I awake. When I look back, when I look back on happier days, my eyes are filled with tears; I see thee then in visions plain, so true, so full of love. But now I fear to ask them if thou art 'live; They tell me not to grieve love! For thou wilt come at last: I dream of thee, I dream of thee, love! And thou art near till I awake.
Sentimental Ballads
Song Cycle by Charles Edward Ives (1874 - 1954)
1. Dreams
Text Authorship:
- by Arthur Bransby Burnand (1859 - 1907), as Anton Strelezki
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by ? Porteous, Baroness , "Träume" [text unavailable]
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Omens and Oracles
Phantoms of the future, spectres of the past, In the wakeful night came round me sighing crying "Fool beware, Fool beware!" Check the feeling o'er thee stealing, Let thy first love be thy last, Or if love again thou must at least this fatal love forbear," Amara! Amara! Amara! Now the dark breaks, now the lark wakes; Now the voices fleet away, Now the breeze about the blossom; Now the ripple in the reed; Beams and buds and birds begin to sing and say, "Love her for she loves thee." And I know not which to heed. O, cara amara amara.
Text Authorship:
- by (Edward) Robert Bulwer-Lytton (1831 - 1891), as Owen Meredith
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Author confirmed with Crawford and Wierzbicki, Music in the United States of America, vol. 12, Middleton, WI: A-R Editions, American Musicological Society, 2004, p. 125
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor]
3. An Old Flame
When dreams enfold me, Then I behold thee, See thee, the same loving sweetheart of old. Through seasons gliding, Thou art abiding In the depths of my heart untold; For I do love thee, May God above his guarding care unfold. Ah! could I meet thee, And have thee greet me, Come to me, Stand by me, Love me as yore, Sadness outdone then, New life would come then, Such joy never known before; For I do love thee, May God above thee, Bless thee ever more, God bless thee! Love, Bless thee! Love.
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Edward Ives (1874 - 1954)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. A night song
The young May moon is beaming; love, The glow-worm's lamp is gleaming, love, How sweet to rove Through Morna's grove, When the drowsy world is dreaming, love! Then awake! The heavens look bright, my dear, 'Tis never too late for delight, ... And best of all ways To lengthen ... days Is to steal a few hours from the night, my my dear, When the drowsy world is dreaming, love! ...
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "The young May Moon", appears in Irish Melodies
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La jeune lune de mai", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
5. A Song - for anything Sung Text
Note: this is a multi-text setting
O have mercy Lord, on me, Thou art ever kind, O, let me oppress'd with guilt, Thy mercy find. The joy Thy favor gives, Let me regain, Thy free spirit's firm support My fainting soul sustain.
Text Authorship:
- by Nicholas Brady (1659 - 1726) [an adaptation]
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 50 (51)"
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]When the waves softly sigh, When the sunbeams die; When the night shadows fall, Evening bells call, Margarita! Margarita! I think of thee! While the silver moon is gleaming, Of thee, I'm dreaming. Yale, Farewell! we must part, But in mind and heart, We shall ever hold thee near, Be life gay or drear. Alma Mater! Alma Mater! We will think of thee! May the strength thou gavest Ever be shown in ways, fair to see. O have mercy Lord, on me, Thou art ever kind, O, let me oppress'd with guilt, Thy mercy find. The joy Thy favor gives, Let me regain, Thy free spirit's firm support My fainting soul sustain.
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Edward Ives (1874 - 1954)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]6. The world's highway
For long I wander'd happily Far out on the world's highway My heart was brave for each new thing and I loved the faraway. I watch'd the gay bright people dance, We laughed, for the road was good. But Oh! I passed where the way was rough I saw it stained with blood - I wander'd on till I tired grew, Far on the world's highway... My heart was sad for what I saw I feared, I feared the faraway. So when one day, O sweetest day, I came to a garden small, A voice my heart knew called me in I answered its blessed call; I left my wand'ring far and wide The freedom and faraway - But my garden blooms with sweet content That's not on the world's highway.
Text Authorship:
- by Harmony Twitchell (1876 - 1969)
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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]7. Kären
Dost remember, child! Last autumn we went Thro' the fields, how oft thy blue eyes on me were bent? It flash'd across my mind That till then I had been blind, Tell me little Kären what thy heart felt then? ...
Text Authorship:
- by Clara Kappey (flourished 1888-1912) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by (Palmo) Carl Ploug (1813 - 1894), "Lille Karen", first published 1853
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]8. Marie
Marie, I see thee fairest one, as in a garden fair. Before thee flowers and blossoms play tossed by soft evening air. The pilgrim passing on his way, Bows low before thy shrine; Thou art, my child, like one sweet prayer, So good, so fair, so pure almost divine. How sweetly now the flowrets raise their eyes to thy dear glance; The fairest flower on which I gaze is thy dear countenace. The evening bells are greeting thee, With sweetest melody, O may no storm e'er crush thy flowers, Or break thy heart, Marie!
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolph von Gottschall (1823 - 1909), "Marie", appears in Die Göttin. Ein Hoheslied vom Weibe, in Das Weib. Eine Dithyrambe, in Die Göttin, in Liebesstudien
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]