by James Joseph Burke (1861 - 1928)
Dawns Awakening
Language: English
I stood on a hill at daybreak and watched the rising sun. I saw the night in its passing and the day that had just begun. I stood on a hill at morning tide and watched the break of day. I saw the stars in the heavens, as they faded slowly away. I saw the sun in its splendor rise over the hazy mists, I felt the warmth of its shining rays, as the earth it fondly kissed. I saw the sheep and the shepherd rise from a night of repose. I saw all the beauties of nature and the dew shine like pearls on the rose. I saw the fields and the forest, I saw the river below, I saw the ships in the harbor, and wondered wither they'd go, I saw in the distance a city where slumbered the wicked and just. Close by on the hillside a graveyard where soon must mingle their dust. I saw the church in the valley where worshipped the old and the young. And I heard the bells in their tow'r as a heavinly anthem they sang. I listened again for the voices that rang in praise of our Lord, The hilltops echoed the music with hosannas in sweetest accord.
Text Authorship:
- by James Joseph Burke (1861 - 1928) [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 Florence Beatrice Price (1887 - 1953), "Dawns Awakening" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 208