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possibly by Lillian Dynevor Rice (d. 1933) and possibly by Frederick News, MD.

A bed‑time song
 (Sung text for setting by E. Nevin)
 Matches original text
Language: English 
Sway to and fro in the twilight gray,
  This is the ferry for Shadowtown;
It always sails at the end of day,
  Just as the darkness is closing down.

Rest, little head, on my shoulder, so;
  A sleepy kiss is the only fare,
Drifting away from the world we go,
  Baby and I in the rocking chair.

See, where the fire-logs glow and spark,
  Glitter the lights of the Shadowland;
The winter rain in the window -- hark!
  Are ripples lapping upon its strand.

There, where the mirror is glancing dim,
  A lake lies shimmering, cool and still;
Blossoms are waving above its brim --
  Those over there on the window-sill.

Rock slow, more slow, in the dusky light;
  Silently lower the anchor down.
Dear little passenger say, "Good night," 
  We've reached the harbor of Shadowtown.
Note: this poem has been attributed to various authors in different publications. Sometimes it is included without an author or given as being "from St. Nicholas".

Composition:

    Set to music by Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin (1862 - 1901), "A bed-time song", 1887, published 1899

Text Authorship:

  • possibly by Lillian Dynevor Rice (d. 1933), "A bed-time song", first published c1889
  • possibly by Frederick News, MD. , "A bed-time song", first published c1889

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: 134

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