possibly by Lillian Dynevor Rice (d. 1933) and possibly by Frederick News, MD.
A bed‑time song
Language: English
Sway to and fro in the twilight gray, This is the ferry for Shadowtown; It [always]1 sails at the end of [day]2, Just as the darkness [is closing]3 down. Rest, little head, on my shoulder, [so]4; 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]5 the window -- hark! Are [ripples]6 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.
View original text (without footnotes)
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".
1 Lang: "only"
2 Lang: "the day"
3 Lang: "closes"
4 Lang: "now"
5 Lang: "raining drops on"
6 Lang: "the ripples"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
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".
1 Lang: "only"
2 Lang: "the day"
3 Lang: "closes"
4 Lang: "now"
5 Lang: "raining drops on"
6 Lang: "the ripples"
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Lillian Dynevor Rice (d. 1933), "A bed-time song", first published c1889 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
- possibly by Frederick News, MD. , "A bed-time song", first published c1889 [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 Margaret Ruthven Lang (1867 - 1972), "A bed-time song", op. 6 (Three songs) no. 2, published 1891 [ voice and piano ], Schmidt ; note: the poem is (mis?)attributed to Eugene Field in the score [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin (1862 - 1901), "A bed-time song", 1887, published 1899 [sung text checked 1 time]
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