Songs of our land (Alicia Adelaide Needham)
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- (Posted 2023-11-21) CPDL #77507:
- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-11-21). Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 630 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
- (Posted 2020-07-26) CPDL #59890:
- Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2020-07-26). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 149 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Songs of our land
Composer: Alicia Adelaide Needham
Lyricist: Frances Browne
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: Piano
First published: 1896 Novello's Part-songs (2nd series) no.759
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Songs of our land, ye are with us for ever;
The power and the splendour of thrones pass away,
But yours is the might of some far-flowing river,
Thro' summer's bright roses or autumn's decay.
Ye treasure each voice of the swift-passing ages,
And truth, which Time writeth on leaves or on sand;
Ye bring us the bright thoughts of poets and sages,
And keep them among us, old songs of our land!
The bards may go down to the place of their slumbers,
The lyre of the charmer be hushed in the grave;
But far in the future the power of their numbers
Shall kindle the hearts of our faithful and brave.
'Twill waken and echo in souls deep and lonely,
Like voices of reeds by the summer breeze fanned;
'Twill call up a spirit of freedom, when only
Her breathings are heard in the songs of our land.
The springtime may come with the song of her glory,
To bid the green heart of the forest rejoice;
But the pine of the mountain, though blasted and hoary,
And rock in the desert can send forth a voice.
'Tis thus in their triumphs of deep desolations,
While ocean waves roll, or the mountains shall stand,
Still hearts that are bravest and best of the nations,
Shall love ye for ever, sweet songs of our land.