Come, gentle night!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Come, gentle night!" is a poem by Clifton Bingham set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1901.
Clifton Bingham (1859-1913) was a English author of poems and childrens books, many of them illustrated by Louis Wain.
The song is for soprano voice: the title-page advertising that it was sung by Clara Butt.
[edit] Lyrics
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- Come, gentle night!
- Upon our eye-lids lay thy fingers light ;
- For we are tired, and fain aside would lay
- The cares and burdens that surround the day.
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- Come, peaceful night!
- Thy courier-stars already glitter bright ;
- And we who labour, both unblest and blest,
- Are weary of our work, and long for rest.
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- Come, holy night!
- Long is the day and ceaseless is the fight;
- Around us bid thy quiet shadows creep,
- And rock us in thy sombre arms to sleep!
[edit] References
- Kennedy, Michael, Portrait of Elgar (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0193154145
- Moore, Jerrold N. “Edward Elgar: a creative life” (Oxford University Press, 1984) ISBN 0193154471
