by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
The flight of the earls
Language: English
To other shores across the sea We speed with swelling sail; Yet still there lingers on our lee A phantom Innisfail. Oh fear, fear not, gentle ghost, Your sons shall turn untrue! Though fain to fly your lovely coast, They leave their hearts with you. As slowly into distance dim Your shadow sinks and dies, So o'er the ocean's utmost rim Another realm shall rise; New hills shall swell, new vales expand, New rivers winding flow, But could we for a foster land Your mother-love forego? Shall mighty Espan's martial praise Our patriot pulses still, And o'er your memory's fervent rays Forever cast a chill? Oh, no! we live for your relief, Till home from alien earth We share the smile that gilds your grief, The tear that gems your mirth.
Text Authorship:
- by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931), "The flight of the earls", appears in Irish Songs and Ballads, in Songs and Ballads [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 Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "The flight of the earls", published [1882?] [ voice and piano ], from Songs of Old Ireland. A Collection of Fifty Irish Melodies Unknown in England, no. 10, arrangement ; London, Boosey & Co. ; dedicated to Johannes Brahms, August 1882 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 131