by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
The Land of Dreams Matches original text
Language: English
Awake, awake my little boy, thou wast thy mother's only joy. Why dost thou weep in thy gentle sleep? Awake, thy father does thee keep. Oh, what land is the land of dreams? What are its mountains and what are its streams? O father, I saw my mother there, among the lilies by waters fair. Among the lambs clothed in white, she walked with her Thomas in sweet delight. I wept for joy; like a dove I mourn. Oh, when shall I again return? Dear child, I also by pleasand streams have wandered all night in the land of dreams; but though calm and warm the waters wide, I could not get to the other side? Father, O father, what do we here, in this land of unbelief and fear? The land of dreams is better far -- above the light of the morning star.
Composition:
- Set to music by Daniel Kidane (b. 1986), "The Land of Dreams", first performed 2018 [ tenor and piano ], from Songs of Illumination, no. 2, confirmed with a concert programme booklet
Text Authorship:
- by William Blake (1757 - 1827), "The land of dreams"
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 144