When the shy star goes forth in heaven | When the shy star goes forth in heaven

by James Joyce (1882 - 1941)

When the shy star goes forth in heaven

Language: English

Our translations: FRE

 When the shy star goes forth in heaven 
   All maidenly, disconsolate, 
 Hear you amid the drowsy even 
   One who is singing by your gate. 
 His song is softer than the dew 
   And he is come to visit you. 

 O bend no more in revery 
   When he at eventide is calling, 
 Nor muse: Who may this singer be 
   Whose song about my heart is falling 
 Know you by this, the lover's chant, 
   'Tis I that am your visitant.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

by James Joyce (1882 - 1941), appears in Chamber Music, no. 4, first published 1907 [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 David Arditti (b. 1964), no title, op. 20 no. 3 (1998) [ tenor and string quartet ], from Chamber Music, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
by William A. Billingsley (b. 1922), "When the shy star goes forth in heaven" [ tenor and piano ], from James Joyce Songs [sung text not yet checked]
by Israel Citkowitz (1909 - 1974), "When the shy star goes forth in heaven", published 1930 [ voice and piano ], from Five Songs from "Chamber Music", no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
by Matthew Emery (b. 1991), "The lover's chant ", 2013 [ SATB chorus a cappella ] [sung text checked 1 time]
by Ross Lee Finney (1906 - 1997), "When the shy star goes forth in heaven ", 1952, published 1985, first performed 1975 [ voice and piano ], from Chamber Music, no. 4, Henmar Press [sung text not yet checked]
by Tom Vernon Ritchie (b. 1922), "When the shy star goes forth in heaven" [ voice and piano or string quartet ], from Serenade [sung text not yet checked]
by Wayland Rogers , "When the shy star goes forth in heaven" [ medium voice and piano ], from Five James Joyce Poems, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 77