by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)
This world is all a fleeting show
Language: English
This world is all a fleeting show, For man's illusion given; The smiles of joy, the tears of woe, Deceitful shine, deceitful flow -- There's nothing true but heaven! And false the light on glory's plume, As fading hues of even; And love and hope and beauty's bloom, are blossoms gathered for the tomb; There's nothing bright but heaven. Poor wonderers of a stormy day! From wave to wave we're driven, And fancy's flash and reason's ray Serve but to light the troubled way -- There's nothing calm but heaven.
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Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "This world is all a fleeting show", appears in Sacred Songs, first published 1816 [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 Oliver Shaw (1779 - 1848), "There's nothing true but Heav'n", published 1817 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Simon Waley Waley (1827 - 1875), "This world is all a fleeting show", published 1867 [ satb chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Louise Swanton-Belloc (1796 - 1881) [an adaptation] ; composed by Hector Berlioz.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-03
Line count: 15
Word count: 88