The Croaker (Horatio Richmond Palmer)

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• (Posted 2023-11-26)  CPDL #77583:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-11-26).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 542 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Croaker
Composer: Horatio Richmond Palmer
Lyricist: Horatio Alger, Jr.
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1872 John Church & Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

An old frog lived in a dismal swamp,
In a dismal and gloomy a way;
And all that he did, whatever befell,
Was to croak the livelong day.
‘Twas croak, croak, croak,
When the darkness filled the air,
And croak, croak, croak,
When the skies were bright and fair.

“Good Master Frog, there’s a battle fought,
And the foeman's power is broke.”
But he only turned a greener hue,
While he answered with a croak:
‘Twas croak, croak, croak,
When the clouds are dark and dun,
And croak, croak, croak,
In the blaze of the noontide sun.

“Good Master Frog, see the powers of right
Are now driving the minions of wrong.”
But he gave his head an dismal shake,
While he croaked out, “Nous verrons!”
Twas croak, croak, croak,
Till the heart is full of gloom,
And croak, croak, croak,
Till the world seems but a tomb.

To poison meanly the cup of life,
And he always be dreading the worst,
Is to make the earth a dungeon damp,
And the happiest life accursed.
Who croak, croak, croak,
When the noontide sun rides high,
And croak, croak, croak,
Lest the night come by and by.

Farewell, fare-well to the dismal frog;
Let him croak long and loud as he may;
For he cannot blot the sun from heaven,
Nor hinder the march of day,
Though he croak, croak, croak,
Till the heart is full of gloom,
And croak, croak, croak,
Till the world seems but a tomb.