by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906)
The Awakening
Language: English
I did not know that life could be so sweet, I did not know the hours could speed so fleet, Till I knew you, and life was sweet again. The days grew brief with love and lack of pain— I was a slave a few short days ago, The powers of Kings and Princes now I know; I would not be again in bondage, save I had your smile, the liberty I crave.
Authorship:
- by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906), "The Awakening" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork (b. 1941), "The Awakening", 1987 [ voice and piano ], from Five Dunbar Lyrics, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork (b. 1941), "The Awakening", 1994, from Common Ground: An Operatic Songfest, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2018-02-06
Line count: 8
Word count: 73