Long time ago
Language: English
On the lake where droop'd the willow Long time ago, Where the rock threw back the billow Brighter than snow. Dwelt a maid beloved and cherish'd By high and low, But with autumn leaf she perished Long time ago. Rock and tree and flowing water Long time ago, Bird and bee and blossom taught her Love's spell to know. While to my fond words she listen'd Murmuring low, Tenderly her blue eyes glisten'd Long time ago.
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , published 1837 by George Pope Morris, who adapted the words, and Charles Edward Horn, who arranged the music from an anonymous (original) minstrel tune [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 Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990), "Long time ago", 1950, first performed 1950 [voice and piano or orchestra], from Old American Songs, First Set, no. 3. [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CHI Chinese (汉语 / 漢語) (Yen-Chiang Che) , title 1: "很久以前", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , title unknown, copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-06-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 76