The Shepherd’s Lament (Henry Thomas Smart)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Mp3
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2023-12-08)  CPDL #77983:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-12-08).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 506 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Shepherd’s Lament
Composer: Henry Thomas Smart
Lyricists: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, translated Alfred Baskerville
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1872 Tonic Sol-Fa Agency
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

On the brow of yonder mountain
A thousand times I stand,
And, on my crook reposing,
Gaze down on the verdant land.

The flocks as they graze I follow,
My dog he guardeth them well;
From the mountain have I descended,
Yet how 1 can scarcely tell.

The meadows are sweetly enameled
With flowers so lovely and gay;
I gather them, but without knowing
To whom I shall give them away.

In rain, in storm, and in tempest
I stand there beneath the tree;
Yon door remains closed against me,
But all is a dream for me.

’Tis true, there appeareth a rainbow,
And over yon cottage it stands:
But she, alas, is departed
To distant, far distant lands.

To some far land and farther,
Perhaps even over the sea.
Pass on, ye sheep, pass onwards!
The shepherd, O sad is he.