He who seeks to tame the wind (John Cornwall)
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- (Posted 2023-10-05) CPDL #76086:
- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-05). Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 413 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: He who seeks to tame the wind
Tune: Cold’s the wind (English)
Composer: John Cornwall
Lyricist: May Byron
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1899 J. Curwen & Sons
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
He who seeks to tame the wind,
Or soothe the blustering sea;
His labour but in vain shall find,
His toil shall wasted be.
So he who fears mischance of fate,
Or trembles at Dame Fortune’s frown,
Needs must sing, or soon or late,
Hey derry, derry down!
He likewise that goes about
To please each eye and will,
A golden gift, without a doubt,
Should carry with him still;
For fawning flatterers come to fall,
And witless words win no renown,
But this burden endeth all,
Hey down, hey derry down!
He that dwells within the door
Of quiet and content,
Who little owns, yet asks no more,
Whose mind is innocent;
Sure he alone, when stormy chance,
Doth shake and topple king and crown,
Ne’er with rueful countenance
Sings down, hey derry down!