Now, O now, in this brown land | Now, O now, in this brown land

by James Joyce (1882 - 1941)

Now, O now, in this brown land

Language: English

Our translations: FRE

Now, O now, in this brown land
    Where Love did so sweet music make 
We two shall wander, hand in hand,
    Forbearing for old friendship' sake, 
Nor grieve because our love was gay
Which now is ended in this way.

A rogue in red and yellow dress
    Is knocking, knocking at the tree; 
And all around our loneliness
    The wind is whistling merrily. 
The leaves -- - they do not sigh at all
When the year takes them in the fall.

Now, O now, we hear no more
    The vilanelle and roundelay! 
Yet will we kiss, sweetheart, before
    We take sad leave at close of day. 
Grieve not, sweetheart, for anything -- -
The year, the year is gathering.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

by James Joyce (1882 - 1941), no title, appears in Chamber Music, no. 33, first published 1907 [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 Matthew Emery (b. 1991), "The year is gathering", from Four Settings of James Joyce, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
by Ross Lee Finney (1906 - 1997), "Now, O now, in this brown land", 1952, published 1985, first performed 1975 [ voice and piano ], from Chamber Music, no. 33, Henmar Press [sung text not yet checked]
by (Aynsley) Eugene Goossens, Sir (1893 - 1962), "Now, O now, in this brown land", op. 51 no. 1 (1929), published 1930 [ medium voice and piano ], from Chamber Music, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
by Jack Marius Jarrett (b. 1934), "Now, O now, in this brown land", 1962 [ satb chorus and piano ], from Songs about the end of love [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernest John Moeran (1894 - 1950), "Now, O now, in this brown land", R. 51 no. 7 (1929), published 1930 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], from Seven Poems by James Joyce, no. 7 [sung text not yet checked]
by Irwin Spector (b. 1916), "Now, O now, in this brown land" [ medium voice, oboe, viola, and piano ], from Songs of Love and Music [sung text not yet checked]
by John David White (b. 1931), "Now, O now, in this brown land" [ alto or baritone and piano ], from Three Joyce Songs [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: 2008-01-24
Line count: 18
Word count: 115