Out West (Henry L. Frisbie)
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- (Posted 2023-10-17) CPDL #76394:
- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-17). Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 569 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Out West
Composer: Henry L. Frisbie
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1867 Root & Cady
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
There’s a country famed in story,
As you’ve oftentimes been told;
’Tis a land of mighty rivers,
Running over sands of gold:
The abode of peace and plenty,
And with quietness ’tis blest!
But this country that’s so famous
Is away off in the west.
’Tis away off in the west,
’Tis away off in the west;
O! I fear we ne’er shall find it,
’Tis so far off in the west.
Once a man in Androscoggin,
Or in some outlandish place,
With a view to find this country,
To the westward set his face.
He was weary at Chicago,
So he sat him down to rest;
But ’twas only there the center,
Not the fabled golden west.
Then he crossed the rolling prairies
Stretching onward like the sea;
“I am bound to find this country,
If there’s such a one,” said he:
So he swam the Mississippi,
Then upon Missouri’s breast,
He explored the wilds of Kansas
For this country in the west.
Climbing o’er the Rocky mountains,
On he kept his weary way,
Till the broad Pacific’s waters
Right before his vision lay:
Here he sat him down and pondered,
But for him there was no rest;
“’Tis an island, surely,” said he,
“This fair country in the west.”
So a vessel quick he builded,
And the shore he left behind;
Sailing on with eager longings,
Still this happy isle to find:
After many days, one morning
He beheld the wished for land;
Steering ’mid the shoals and breakers,
Quickly reached the golden strand.
From this gallant bark he landed,
Wading thro’ the curling foam,
With his eyes wide ope’ with wonder,
For he found himself at home:
Then he learned that one forever
Might go one and never rest;
Still they would not find this country,
For ’tis always further west.