Wave, wave, green branches, wave me far away To where the forest deepens and the hillwinds, sleeping, stay: Where Peace doth fold her twilight wings, and through the heart of day There goes the rumour of passing hours grown faint and grey. Wave, wave, green branches, my heart like a bird doth hover Above the nesting-place your green-gloom shadows cover: O come to my nesting heart, come close, come close, bend over, Joy of my heart, my life, my prince, my lover!
Five Celtic Songs
Song Cycle by Rutland Boughton (1878 - 1960)
1. Green branches [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "Green branches", appears in From the Hills of Dream, first published 1896
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Daughter of the Sun [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Thou art the Daughter of the Sun, Alona! Even as the sun in a green place, The light that is upon thy face! When thou art gone there is dusk on my ways, Alona! Thy soul is of sun-fire wrought in clay, Alona, The white warm clay that hath for name, Alona -- and for word of fame, Eilidh -- and is for me a Flame To burn against the Eternal Day, Alona! The hills know thee, and the green woods, Alona, And the wide sea, and the blue loch, and the stream: On thy brow, Daughter of the Sun, is agleam The mystery of Dream, -- Alona! The fires of the sun that burn thee, Alona, O, heart of my heart, are in me! Thy fire burns, thy flame killeth, thy sea Of light blazeth continually -- Is there no rest in joy, no rest, no rest for me Whom rapture slayeth utterly, Alona, Alona!
Text Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "Alona", appears in The Love Songs of Ian Mòr
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Author's note: Alona is the Anglicised form of an old Gaelic word signifying "exquisitely beautiful."Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. Tragic lullaby
Language: English
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —
4. Shule agrah [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
His face was glad as dawn to me, His breath was sweet as dusk to me, His eyes were burning flames to me, Shule, Shule, Shule, agrah! The broad noon-day was night to me, The full-moon night was dark to me, The stars whirled and the poles span The hour God took him far from me. Perhaps he dreams in heaven now, Perhaps he doth in worship bow, A white flame round his foam-white brow, Shule, Shule, Shule, agrah! I laugh to think of him like this, Who once found all his joy and bliss Against my heart, against my kiss, Shule, Shule, Shule, agrah! Star of my joy, art still the same Now thou hast gotten a new name? Pulse of my heart, my Blood, my Flame, Shule, Shule, Shule, agrah!
Text Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "Shule, Shule, Shule, agrah!", appears in From the Hills of Dream, first published 1896
See other settings of this text.
Author's note: I do not give the correct spelling of the Gaelic. The line signifies "Move, move, move to me, my Heart's Love."Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
5. My grief
Language: English
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —
Total word count: 366