Shadow of the blues

Song Cycle by John Musto (b. 1954)

1. Silhouette  [sung text checked 1 time]

Southern gentle lady,
Do not swoon. 
They've just hung a black man
In the dark of the moon. 
They've hung a black man
To a roadside tree
In the dark of the moon
For the world to see
How Dixie protects
Its white womanhood. 
Southern gentle lady,
Be good! Be good!

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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: John Musto

2. Litany  [sung text checked 1 time]

Gather up
In the arms of your pity
The sick, the depraved,
The desperate, the tired,
All the scum
Of our weary city
Gather up
In the arms of your pity.
Gather up
In the arms of your love --
Those who expect
No love from above.

Authorship:

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]

3. Island  [sung text checked 1 time]

Wave of sorrow
Do not drown me now:
I see the island
Still ahead somehow. 
I see the island
And its sands are fair:
Wave of sorrow
Take me there.

Authorship:

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: John Musto

4. Could be  [sung text checked 1 time]

Could be Hastings Street,
Or Lenox Avenue,
Could be Eighteenth & Vine
And still be true. 
Could be Fifth & Mound,
Could be Rampart. 
When you pawned my watch
You pawned my heart. 
Could be you love me,
Could be [that] you don't. 
Might be that you'll come back,
Like as not you won't. 
Hastings Street is weary,
Also Lenox Avenue. 
Any place is dreary
Without my watch and you.

Authorship:

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: John Musto
Total word count: 197