The bird at sea (George J. Webb)

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• (Posted 2024-02-19)  CPDL #79193:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-02-19).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 409 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The bird at sea
Composer: George J. Webb
Lyricist: Felicia Hemans
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1843 J. H. Wilkins and R. B. Carter
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Bird of the greenwood!
    Oh! why art thou here?
Leaves dance not o’er thee,
    Flowers bloom not near.
All the sweet waters
    Far hence are at play —
    Bird of the greenwood!
    Away, away!

Where the mast quivers,
    Thy place will not be,
As midst the waving
    Of wild rose and tree.
How should’st thou battle
    With storm and with spray?
Bird of the greenwood!
    Away, away!

Or art thou seeking
    Some brighter land,
Where by the south-wind
    Vine leaves are fanned?
Midst the wild billows
    Why then delay?
Bird of the greenwood!
    Away, away!

“Chide not my lingering
    Where storms are dark;
A hand that hath nursed me
    Is in the bark;
A heart that hath cherished
    Through winter’s long day,
So I turn from the greenwood,
    Away, away!”