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by William Blake (1757 - 1827)

O for a voice like thunder
 (Sung text for setting by S. Wheeler)
 See original
Language: English 
O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,
Who can stand? When the souls of the oppressèd
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of God, when the frowns of his countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?
When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain,
O who can stand? O who hath causèd this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
 ... 

Composition:

    Set to music by Scott Wheeler (b. 1952), "O for a voice like thunder", 2007, first performed 2008, lines 1-14 [ tenor and piano ], from Heaven and Earth, no. 4, Scott Wheeler Music

Text Authorship:

  • by William Blake (1757 - 1827), "Prologue, intended for a dramatic piece of King Edward the Fourth"

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-04-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 139

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