Four Songs

Song Cycle by Bainbridge Crist (1883 - 1969)

1. Yesteryear

Language: English 
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2. April Rain  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Fall, rain! You are the blood of coming blossom,
You shall be music in the young birds' throats,
You shall be breaking, soon, in silver notes;
A virgin laughter in the young earth's bosom.
Oh, that I could with you reënter earth,
Pass through her heart and come again to sun,
Out of her fertile dark to sing and run 
In loveliness and fragrance of new mirth!

Fall, rain! Into the dust I go with you,
Pierce the remaining snows with subtle fire,
Warming the frozen roots with soft desire,
Dreams of ascending leaves and flowers new.
I am no longer body, -- I am blood
Seeking for some new loveliness of shape;
Dark loveliness that dreams of new escape,
The sun-surrender of unclosing bud.
Take me, O Earth! and make me what you will;
I feel my heart with mingled music fill.

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First published in Atlantic Monthly, 1916, p. 599

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. To the water nymphs  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Reach, with your whiter hands, to me
Some crystal of the spring;
And I about the cup shall see
Fresh lilies flourishing.
Or else, sweet nymphs, do you but this,
To th' glass your lips incline;
And I shall see by that one kiss
The water turn'd to wine.

Text Authorship:

  • by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "To the water nymphs drinking at the fountain"

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. Butterflies

Language: English 
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in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Total word count: 191