What is there within this beggar lad That I can neither hear nor feel nor see, that I can neither know nor understand And still calls to me? Is not he but a shadow in the sun -- A bit of clay, brown, ugly, given life? And yet he plays upon his flute a wild free tune As if Fate had not bled him with her knife!
Sea Charm
Song Cycle by Frederick Piket (1903 - 1974)
?. Beggar boy [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Beggar boy", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Long trip [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
The sea is a wilderness of waves,
A desert of water.
We dip and dive,
Rise and roll,
Hide and are hidden
On the sea.
Day, night,
Night, day,
The sea is a desert of waves,
A wilderness of water.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Long trip", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Death of an old seaman [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
We buried him high on the windy hill, But his soul went out to sea. I know, for I heard, when all was still, His sea-soul say to me: Put no tombstone at my head, For here I do not make my bed. Strew no flowers on my grave, I've gone back to the wind and wave. Do not, do not weep for me, For I am happy with my sea.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Death of an old seaman", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Water‑front streets [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
The spring is not so beautiful there -- But dream ships sail away To where the spring is wondrous rare And life is gay. The spring is not so beautiful there -- But lads put out to sea Who carry beauties in their hearts And dreams, like me.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Water-Front Streets", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Parisian beggar woman [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Once you were young. Now, hunched in the cold, Nobody cares That you are old. Once you were beautiful. Now, in the street, No one remembers Your lips were sweet. Oh, withered old woman Of rue Fontaine, Nobody but death Will kiss you again.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Parisian beggar woman", appears in The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, first published 1932
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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]?. Sailor [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
He sat upon the rolling deck Half a world away from home, And smoked a Capstan cigarette And watched the blue waves tipped with foam. He had a mermaid on his arm, An anchor on his breast, And tattooed on his back he had A blue bird in a nest. I am God -- Without one friend, Alone in my purity World without end. Below me young lovers Tread the sweet ground -- But I am God -- I cannot come down. Spring! Life is love! Love is life only! Better to be human Than God -- and lonely.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Sailor", appears in The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, first published 1932
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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]?. Irish wake [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
In the dark they fell a crying for the dead who'd gone away, and you could hear the drowsy wailing of those compelled to stay -- but when the sun rose, making All the door yard white and clear the mourners got up smilling, happy they were here.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Irish wake", appears in The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, first published 1932
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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]?. Mexican Market Woman [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
This ancient hag Who sits upon the ground Selling her scanty wares Day in, day round, Has known high wind-swept mountains, And the sun has made Her skin so brown.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Mexican Market Woman", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Sea calm [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
How still, How strangely still The water is today. It is not good For water To be so still that way.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Sea calm", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Seascape [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Off the coast of Ireland As our ship passed by We saw a line of fishing ships Etched against the sky. Off the coast of England As we rode the foam We saw an Indian merchantman Coming home.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Seascape", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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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]?. Sea charm [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
The sea's own children Do not understand. They know But that the sea is strong Like God's hand. They know But that sea wind is sweet Like God's breath, And that the sea holds A wide, deep death.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Sea charm", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
See other settings of this text.
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]Total word count: 536