by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889)
I lote my little native isle
Language: English
I lote my little native isle, Mine emerald in a golden deep ; My garden where the roses smile, My vineyard where the tendrils creep. How sweetly glide the summer hours, When twilight shews her silver sheen ; And youths and maids from all the bowers Come forth to play the Tambourine At morn the fisher spreads Iris sail Upon our calm encircling sea ; The farmer labours in the vale, Or tends his vine and orange-tree. But soon as lingering sunset throws O'er woods and fields a deeper green, And all the west in crimson glows, They gather to the Tambourine. We love our merry native song, Our moss-grown seats in lonely nooks, Our moonlight walks the beach along, For interchange of words and looks. When toil is done, and day is spent, Sweet is the dance with song between; The jest for harmless pleasure meant, And tinkle of the Tambourine. My native isle, my land of peace My father's home, my mother's grave May evermore thy joys increase, And plenty o'er thy corn-fields wave! May storms ne'er vex thine ocean surf, Nor war pollute thy valleys green ; Nor fail the dance upon thy turf, Nor music of the Tambourine
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with The illustrated book of English songs, London : Illustrated London Library, Third edition, 186?, p.317
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889), "I love my little native isle" [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 Ann Sheppard Mounsey (1811 - 1891), as Ann Sheppard Bartholomew, "The Tambourine Player", published 1879 [ voice and piano ], London : Stanley Lucas, Weber and Co [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2024-08-08
Line count: 32
Word count: 198