by William Henry Ogilvie (1869 - 1963)

Language: English 
"New moon tonight", you will hear them say, 
Turning their eyes to the glint of gold, 
But this, you know, is their quaint little way, 
For the moon she is centuries old, 

She swings like a boat in the darkening sky, 
A boat that is gilded from stem to stern, 
"Turn you money", the old wives cry, 
But ev'ry year we have less to turn. 

"New moon tonight", so the people say, 
But the winds that cross her and croon 
Have sung in her silvery sails all day, 
They know her the old, old moon, 

And the pine trees listen and toss their heads, 
And laugh in a splendid scorn, 
For the old moon sail'd by their cradle beds 
Before the speakers were born. 

"New moon tonight", you will hear them say, 
Turning their eyes to the glint of gold, 
But this, you know, is their quaint little way, 
For the moon she is centuries old!

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Composition:

    Set to music by Ruth Adamson Brooks (1864 - 1943), as Hon. Mrs. Tennant, "The new moon", published 1910 [ voice and piano ], New York : Boosey & Co.
        Score: Ball State University [external link]

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-04-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 156