Some one is always sitting there,
In the little green orchard;
Even when the sun is high
In noon's unclouded sky,
And faintly droning goes
The bee from rose to rose,
Some one in shadow is sitting there
In the little green orchard.
Yes, when the twilight's falling softly
In the little green orchard;
When the grey dew distills
And every flower-cup fills;
When the last blackbird says,
'What - what!' and goes her way - ssh!
I have heard voices calling softly
In the little green orchard
Not that I am afraid of being there,
In the little green orchard;
Why, when the moon's been bright,
Shedding her lonesome light,
And moths like ghosties come,
And the horned snail leaves home:
I've sat there, whispering and listening there,
In the little green orchard.
Only it's strange to be feeling there,
In the little green orchard;
Whether you paint or draw,
Dig, hammer, chop or saw;
When you are most alone,
All but the silence gone
Some one is watching and waiting there,
In the little green orchard.
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Text Authorship:
- by Walter De la Mare (1873 - 1956), "The little green orchard", appears in Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, in 4. Places and People, no. 3, first published 1913 [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 Harry Farjeon (1878 - 1948), "The little green orchard", published <<1940, from The Little Green Orchard [sung text not yet checked]
- by Cecil Armstrong Gibbs (1889 - 1960), "The little green orchard", op. 15 (Three Songs) no. 1, published 1932 [ solo voice, SSAA chorus, and piano ], note: originally op. 9 no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by J. Frederick Keel (1871 - 1954), "The little green orchard", published <<1951 [ unison chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-01-11
Line count: 32
Word count: 176