As a beam o’er the face of the waters (Michael William Balfe)
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- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-01-04). Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 455 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: As a beam o’er the face of the waters
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: Michael William Balfe
Lyricist: Thomas Moore
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1859 J. Alfred Novello
Description: AIR: THE YOUNG MAN’S DREAM
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
As a beam o’er the face of the waters may glow
While the tide runs in darkness and coldness below,
So the cheek may be tinged with a warm sunny smile,
Though the cold heart to ruin runs darkly the while.
One fatal remembrance, one sorrow that throws
Its bleak shade alike o’er our joys and our woes,
To which life nothing darker or brighter can bring,
For which joy has no balm and affliction no sting—
Oh! this thought in the midst of enjoyment will stay,
Like a dead, leafless branch in the summer’s bright ray;
The beams of the warm sun play round it in vain;
It may smile in his light, but it blooms not again.