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by William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903)

What have I done for you
Language: English 
What have I done for you,
England, my England?
What is there I would not do,
England, my own?
With your glorious eyes austere,
As the Lord were walking near,
Whispering terrible things and dear
As the Song on your bugles blown,
England -- 
Round the world on your bugles blown!

Where shall the watchful Sun,
England, my England,
Match the master-work you've done,
England, my own?
When shall he rejoice agen
Such a breed of mighty men
As come forward, one to ten,
To the Song on your bugles blown,
England -- 
Down the years on your bugles blown?

Ever the faith endures,
England, my England: -- 
"Take and break us:  we are yours,
"England, my own!
"Life is good, and joy runs high
"Between English earth and sky:
"Death is death; but we shall die
"To the Song on your bugles blown,
"England -- 
"To the stars on your bugles blown!

They call you proud and hard,
England, my England:
You with worlds to watch and ward,
England, my own!
You whose mailed hand keeps the keys
Of such teeming destinies
You could know nor dread nor ease
Were the Song on your bugles blown,
England,
Round the Pit on your bugles blown!

Mother of Ships whose might,
England, my England,
Is the fierce old Sea's delight,
England, my own,
Chosen daughter of the Lord,
Spouse-in-Chief of the ancient sword,
There's the menace of the Word
In the Song on your bugles blown,
England -- 
Out of heaven on your bugles blown!

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903), no title, appears in The Song of Swords and Other Verses, first published 1892, revised 1900 [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 Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912), "England, my England!", published 1900 [ voice and piano ], London and New York: Boosey & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Martin Edward Fallas Shaw (1875 - 1958), "England, my England", published <<1914 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958), "England, my England", published 1941 [ baritone, double chorus, unison chorus, and orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
  • by (James) Healey Willan (1880 - 1968), "England, my England", 1911 [ unison chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-12-10
Line count: 50
Word count: 249

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