by Alfred Tennyson, Lord (1809 - 1892)
There is a sound of thunder afar
Language: English
There is a sound of thunder afar, Storm in the south that darkens the day, Storm of battle and thunder of war, Well, if it do not roll our way. Form! form! Riflemen form! Ready, be ready to meet the storm! Riflemen, riflemen, riflemen form! Be not deaf to the sound that warns! Be not gull'd by a despot's plea! Are figs of thistles or grapes of thorns? How should a despot set men free? Form! form! Riflemen form! Ready, be ready to meet the storm! Riflemen, riflemen, riflemen form! Let your Reforms for a moment go, Look to your butts and make good aims. Better a rotten borough or so, Than a rotten fleet or a city of flames! Form! form! Riflemen form! Ready, be ready to meet the storm! Riflemen, riflemen, riflemen form! Form, be ready to do or die! Form in freedom's name and the Queen's! True, that we have a faithful ally, But only the devil knows what he means! Form! form! Riflemen form! Ready, be ready to meet the storm! Riflemen, riflemen, riflemen form!
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in The Times, May 1859, revised 1892Text Authorship:
- by Alfred Tennyson, Lord (1809 - 1892), "The war" [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 Michael William Balfe (1808 - 1870), "Riflemen, form!", published [1859] [ voice and piano ], London : Boosey & Hawkes ; also arranged for TTBB chorus a cappella [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Blockley (1800 - 1882), "Riflemen, form!", <<1892 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by J. D. Jones , "Riflemen, form!", <<1892 [ four-part chorus a cappella ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Emily Tennyson, née Sellwood (1813 - 1896), "Riflemen, form!", <<1892 [ voice and piano ], from Songs by Lord Tennyson [sung text not yet checked]
- by W. Young , "Riflemen, form!", <<1892 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-04-18
Line count: 28
Word count: 180