Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me: "Pipe a song about a lamb." So I piped with merry chear. "Piper, pipe that song again." So I piped: he wept to hear. "Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy chear." So I sang the same again, While he wept with joy to hear. "Piper, sit thee down and write In a book, that all may read." So he vanished from my sight; And I pluck'd a hollow reed. And I made a rural pen, And I stain'd the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear.
Two Songs for Alto & Organ
Song Cycle by Jean Mary Anderson (b. 1939)
1. Reeds of Innocence  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by William Blake (1757 - 1827), "Introduction", appears in Songs of Innocence and Experience, in Songs of Innocence, no. 1, first published 1789
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- RUS Russian (Русский) [singable] (Dmitri Nikolaevich Smirnov) , "Вступление", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1. Peace  [sung text not yet checked]
My soul, there is a country [Afar]1 beyond the stars, Where stands a wingèd sentry All skilful in the wars: There, above noise and danger Sweet Peace sits [crown'd]2 with smiles And One, born in a manger Commands the beauteous files. He is thy gracious Friend And -- O my soul, awake! -- Did in pure love descend To die here for thy sake. If thou canst [get]3 but thither, There grows the [flower]4 of Peace, The Rose that cannot wither, Thy fortress and thy ease. Leave then thy foolish ranges, For none can thee secure But One who never changes, Thy God, thy life, thy cure.
Authorship:
- by Henry Vaughan (1622 - 1695), "Peace", first published 1650
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Paix", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Dyson, Parry: "Far"
2 Parry: "crowned"
3 Dyson: "go"
4 Parry: "flow'r"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]