by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Sweet Norah, come here, and look into...
Language: English
"Sweet Norah, come here, and look into the fire; Maybe in its embers good luck we might see; But don't come too near, or your glances so shining, Will put it clean out, like the sunbeams, machree! "Just look 'twixt the sods, where so brightly they're burning; There's a sweet little valley, with rivers and trees, -- And a house on the bank, quite as big as the squire's -- Who knows but some day we'll have something like these? "And now there's a coach, and four galloping horses, A coachman to drive, and a footman behind; That betokens some day we will keep a fine carriage, And dash through the streets with the speed of the wind." As Dermot was speaking, the rain down the chimney Soon quenched the turf-fire on the hollowed hearth-stone; While mansion and carriage in smoke-wreaths evanished, And left the poor dreamers dejected and lone. Then Norah to Dermot these words softly whisper'd, -- "'Tis better to strive, than to vainly desire; And our little hut by the roadside is better Than palace, and servants, and coach -- in the fire!" 'Tis years since poor Dermot his fortune was dreaming -- Since Norah's sweet counsel effected its cure; For ever since then hath he toiled night and morning, And now his snug mansion looks down on the Suir.
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with The Ballads of Ireland; collected and edited by Edward Hayes, Vol. II, Miscellaneous Ballads, Boston, Patrick Donahoe, 1857, page 321.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, title 1: "Fortune in the Fire", title 2: "Irish Castles" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Albert Henry Fernald (flourished 1855-1897), "Irish Air Castles", subtitle: "Ballad", published 1870 [voice and piano], New York, Ditson [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Rohan Srinivasan [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2018-07-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 218