by Vachel Lindsay (1879 - 1931)
In praise of songs that die
Language: English
Ah, they are passing, passing by, Wonderful songs, but born to die! Cries from the infinite human seas, Waves thrice-winged with harmonies. Here I stand on a pier in the foam Seeing the songs to the beach go home, Dying in sand while the tide flows back, As it flowed of old in its fated track. Oh, hurrying tide that will not hear Your own foam children dying near Is there no refuge-house of song, No home, no haven where songs belong? Oh, precious hymns that come and go! You perish, and I love you so!
Text Authorship:
- by Vachel Lindsay (1879 - 1931), "In praise of songs that die" [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 Jake Heggie (b. 1961), "In praise of songs that die", 2005, first performed 2005 [tenor and baritone with violin, viola, cello and piano], from Here and Gone, no. 2. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-04-30
Line count: 14
Word count: 96