by Theodore O'Hara (1820 - 1867)
Translation
Buena Vista
Language: English  after the English
The muffled drum's sad roll has beat; No more on life's parade shall meet That brave and fallen few. No rumour of the foe's advance now swells upon the wind; No troubled thought at midnight haunts Of loved ones left behind. Long had the doubtful conflict raged O'er all that stricken plain, For never fiercer fight had waged The vengeful blood of Spain; And still the storm of battle blew, Still swelled the glory tide; Not long, our stout old Chieftain knew, Such odds his strength could bide. Twas in that hour his stern command Called to a martyr's grave The flower of his beloved land, The nation's flag to save. By rivers of their father's gore His first-born laurels grew, And well he deemed the sons would pour Their lives for glory too. Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead, Dear as the blood ye grave, Where valor proudly sleeps.
The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on
- a text in English by Theodore O'Hara (1820 - 1867), "Bivouac of the Dead"
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 Rickelton (b. 1983), "Buena Vista", 2006, from Battle Songs, no. 2. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-11-03
Line count: 26
Word count: 150