by George Templeton Strong (1856 - 1948)
The Brook
Language: English
Tell me, Brook, where Melody dwells, I’ve sought thro’ dale, in grove and dell, In rocky haunt and forest fell, But ne’er could I find Melody! The song of birds, the wind in trees, The lowing of kine, the drone of bees, These I hear, O magic Brook, In all your whispered melodies! I’ve seen Sun and Moon and Starlight Gleam on your flashing breast, Glitt’ring glist’ning, sparkling gems On every ripple’s crumbling crest! You entrance me, babbling Brook, When weaving wavy melodies, Whispered songs of joy and love, Or sad complaints and threnodies. Ever swift with tossing and dash, Hast’ning on with plash and splash, Ever seeking, elfish Brook, Leafy dell or darkest nook, Say, O Brook, where Melody dwells, Fairest Melody’s shrine, Melody that moves the heart, Melody divine!
Text Authorship:
- by George Templeton Strong (1856 - 1948)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by George Templeton Strong (1856 - 1948), "The Brook", GTS 89 no. 3 (1922) [ medium voice and orchestra ], from Songs of an American Peddler, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 131