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Four songs

Song Cycle by Louis Drakeford

?. Babies in their mothers' arms

Language: English 
Infants in their mothers' arms
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), appears in The Double Man, first published 1941

Go to the general single-text view

?. My second thoughts condemn

Language: English 
My second thoughts condemn
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), no title, appears in The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen, first published 1945

See other settings of this text.

?. Underneath an abject willow  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Underneath an abject willow,
Lover, sulk no more:
Act from thought should quickly follow.
What is thinking for?
Your unique and moping station
Proves you cold;
Stand up and fold
Your map of desolation.

Bells that toll across the meadows
From the sombre spire
Toll for these unloving shadows
Love does not require.
All that lives may love; why longer
Bow to loss
With arms across?
Strike and you shall conquer.

Geese in flocks above you flying.
Their direction know,
[Icy brooks beneath you flowing,
To their ocean go.
Dark and dull is your distraction]1:
Walk then, come,
No longer numb
Into your satisfaction.

Text Authorship:

  • by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), no title, appears in Look, Stranger!, first published 1936

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • GER German (Deutsch) (Elaine Marie Ortiz-Arandes) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Britten:
Brooks beneath the thin ice flowing,
To their ocean go.
Coldest love will warm  to action

Researcher for this page: Elaine Marie Ortiz-Arandes
Total word count: 105
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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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