Baby, see the flowers! -- Baby sees Fairer things than these, Fairer though they be than dreams of ours. Baby, hear the birds! -- Baby knows Better songs than those, Sweeter though they [sound]1 than sweetest words. Baby, see the moon! -- Baby's eyes Laugh to [watch]2 it rise, Answering light with love and night with noon. [Baby, hear the sea!]3 -- Baby's face Takes a graver grace, Touched with wonder what the sound may be. Baby, see the star! -- Baby's hand Opens, warm and bland, Calm in claim of all things fair that are. Baby, hear the bells! -- Baby's head Bows, as ripe for bed, Now the flowers curl round and close their cells. Baby, flower of light, Sleep, and see Brighter dreams than we, Till good day shall smile away good night.
Three Baby Songs
Song Cycle by Rutland Boughton (1878 - 1960)
1. In a garden [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 - 1909), "In a garden", appears in Poems and Ballads, Third Series, first published 1889
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)First published in English Illustrated Magazine, December 1886
1 Lang: "be"
2 Lang: "see"
3 omitted by Lang.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. A cycle of roundels
Language: English
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —
3. Baby‑Bird [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Baby-bird, baby-bird, Ne'er a song on earth May be heard, may be heard, Rich as yours in mirth. All your flickering fingers, All your twinkling toes, Play like light that lingers Till the clear song close. Baby-bird, baby-bird, Your grave majestic eyes Like a bird's warbled words Speak, and sorrow dies. Sorrow dies for love's sake, Love grows one with mirth, Even for one white dove's sake, Born a babe on earth. Baby-bird, baby-bird, Chirping loud and long, Other birds hush their words, Hearkening toward your song. Sweet as spring though it ring, Full of love's own lures, Weak and wrong sounds their song, Singing after yours. Baby-bird, baby-bird, The happy heart that hears Seems to win back within Heaven, and cast out fears. Earth and sun seem as one Sweet light and one sweet word Known of none here but one, Known of one sweet bird.
Text Authorship:
- by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 - 1909), "Baby-Bird", appears in Poems and Ballads, Third Series, first published 1889
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 280