by William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903)
Where's the use of sighing?
Language: English
Where's the use of sighing?
Sorrow as you may,
Time is always flying --
Flying! -- and defying
Men to say him nay . . .
Where's the use of sighing?
Look! To-day is dying
After yesterday.
Time is always flying.
Flying -- and when crying
Cannot make him stay,
Where's the use of sighing?
Men with by-and-bying,
Fritter life away.
Time is always flying,
Flying! -- O, from prying
Cease, and go to play.
Where's the use of sighing,
"Time is always flying?"
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Ballades and rondeaus, chants royal, sestinas, villanelles, etc. Selected, with a Chapter on the various forms, by Gleeson White, London: Walter Scott, 1887, page 251.Text Authorship:
- by William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903), "Villanelle" [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 Mary Grant Carmichael (1851 - 1935), "Where's the use of sighing?", published 1891 [voice and piano], London: J. & J. Hopkinson [text not verified]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-04-18
Line count: 19
Word count: 80