by Adrian Ross (1859 - 1933)
The Pipes of Pan
Language: English
When the woods are gay in the time of June With the Chestnut flow'r and fan, And the birds are still in the hush of noon, - Hark to the pipes of Pan ! He plays on the reed that once was a maid Who broke from his arms and ran, And her soul goes out to the list'ning glade - Hark to the pipes of Pan ! Though you hear, come not near, Fearing the wood-god's ban ; Soft and sweet, in the dim retreat, Hark to the pipes of Pan ! When the sun goes down and the stars are out, He gathers his goat-foot clan, And the Dryads dance with the Satyr rout ; Hark to the pipes of Pan ! For he pipes the dance of the happy Earth Ere ever the gods began, When the woods were merry and mad with mirth - Hark to the pipes of Pan ! Come not nigh, pass them by, Woe to the eyes that scan ! Wild and loud to the leaping crowd, Hark to the pipes of Pan ! When the armies meet on the battle field, And the fight is man to man, With the gride of sword and the clash of shield - Hark to the pipes of Pan ! Thro' the madden'd shriek of the flying rear, Thro' the roar of the charging van, There skirls the tune of the God of Fear - Hark to the pipes of Pan ! Ours the fray -- on and slay, Let him escape that can ! Ringing out in the battle shout, Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Text Authorship:
- by Adrian Ross (1859 - 1933), "The Pipes of Pan" [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 Edward Elgar, Sir (1857 - 1934), "The Pipes of Pan", 1899, published 1900 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-07
Line count: 36
Word count: 255