by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod
The Song of Fionula
Language: English
Sleep, sleep, brothers dear, sleep and dream, Nothing so sweet lies hid in all your years. Life is a storm-swept gleam In a rain of tears: Why wake to a bitter hour, to sigh, to weep? How better far to sleep -- To sleep and dream. To sleep and dream, ah, that were well indeed: Better than sighs, better than tears, Ye can have nothing better for your meed In all the years. Why wake to a bitter hour, to sigh, to weep? How better far to sleep -- To sleep and dream, ah, that is well indeed!
Text Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "The Song of Fionula", appears in From the Hills of Dream, first published 1901 [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 George Norman Peterkin (1886 - 1982), "The Song of Fionula", published 1935 [ mezzo-soprano or alto and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-18
Line count: 14
Word count: 96