Lyrics |
Song 1: Could Roses Speak: I send thee now these roses red, And pray that thou wilt see Within their perfumed velvet folds, The love which I bear thee. Could roses speak, each flow'r would plead, In love's beguiling tone: "Thou art my Rose of all the world, Oh, bloom for me alone." Each rose, that breathes before thee now, Is laden down with love. Its incense floats from ev'ry flow'r, And seeks thy heart above. Oh, may I find a haven there, Within thy heart's embrace; An altar there on which to lie, Within Love's holy place! Song 2: My Lovely Rose: Dear heart, this faded rose I hold, A rose so pure and dear to me. To some deep recess of my soul, It breathes a message, love, from thee. The rose that wither'd on thy breast, I clasp within, within my hands and sigh, I clasp within, within my hands and sigh, "Oh rose, thou wert, thou wert too fondly blest, To rest upon her heart, and die;" My rose, my lovely rose, My rose! I press the rose close to my lips, And breathe a pray'r to heav'n for grace. Its petals soothe my soul, and spread Their ling'ring fragrance o'er my face. To me, a fadeless rose thou art; Thy memory a sacred shrine; I kiss the rose, I kiss the rose, and on thy heart I lay it down -- thou love divine! Song 3: At Dawning: When the dawn flames in the sky I love you; When the birdlings wake and cry, I love you; When the swaying blades of corn Whisper soft at break of morn, Love anew to me is born, I love you, I love you. Dawn and dew proclaim my dream, I love you; Chant the birds one thrilling theme, I love you; All the sounds of morning meet, Break in yearning at your feet. Come and answer, come, my sweet, I love you, I love you. Song 4: The Sum of Love: Take all the love that's ever been From long ago to now, And multiply it ten times ten, Then ten times more allow; Add all the love that e'er will be Let interest accrue, And the sum of the love that you will see Is less, is less than mine for you! Song 4: In a Garden: Ah, I know a nook of trellis'd blooms, Where from the vine-clad arbor-glooms, Wistaria hangs its purple plumes, That is the place I love! Ah, I know a maiden tall and fair, Who walks among the blossoms there Fain would I tell her, did I dare, She is the maid I love! Song 5: Memories: Oh, sweetest music! Trembling to my lips An old-time song of hers familiar slips, Till I remember, grieving as I must, Her lips are dust, Her lips are dust. Oh, sweetest music, stirring with its beat The heart of me, to measures sadly sweet; But her glad heart, which once with mine did thrill, Her heart is still, Her heart is still. Oh, sweetest music! Dreaming of the morn, I hear her softly singing in the corn; I hear and thrill with rapture at the tone, But wake alone, But wake alone. Song 6: The Pearl Lies in the Sea The pearl lies in the sea, The rose is set with thorn, And brave is he who wins the prize His bosom to adorn. But deeper than the sea, And crueler than the thorn, Is that strange maiden heart of hers, Wherein her love is born. Yet mine to dare and do, Nor idly to repose, For love is rarer than the pearl, And sweeter than the rose, sweeter than the rose. Song 7: Since I Kissed You: Ah, since I kiss'd you The world is sweetly chang'd to me; The flow'rs bloom gaily from the tree, All nature seems one holiday All nature seems one holiday In plumes and garlands of the May. Ah, since I kiss'd you The memory of silent years, Of blighted hopes, of blinding tears Is swept away and lonely hours Are spann'd by love's undying flow'rs. Ah, since I kiss'd you! Song 8: Indian Summer: Dear love, the rose has long since died, The birds of spring are silent now, And argent tendrils twine beside The amber tresses on thy brow. No note proclaims from muted lyres That spring and we are far apart; A late wind stirs the maple fires, And lights a flame within my heart, And lights a flame, a flame within my heart, And lights a flame within my heart. Love paints the skies with warmth and glow, He sows with green the autumn sod, Nor need we miss, nor need we miss the rose, for lo, The aster stars! The goldenrod! Song 9: I Passed a Stately Cavalcade: I pass'd a stately cavalcade Upon the desert wide, Where went a princess silk-array'd, To be a sultan's bride, She drew aside the gauzy screen, My heart leap'd ardently! From out the rose-hung palanquin Two star eyes shone on me. Ah! speeding dart, ah! pierced heart! I did but glimpse her passing near, And she has gone afar! But life is now a desert drear, And night has lost its star, And night has lost its star. Song 10: Lenore: When thou art near, Lenore, when thou art near, The winter sky for me is all aglow, As tho' the summer sun shone warm and clear Above, above the shroud of snow. When thou art near, when thou art near, my sweet, The air grows fragrant, which is scent-less now. It is as if a rose burst forth complete Upon a barren bough. When thou art near, Lenore, when thou art near, A thousand birds come hast'ning from afar; A thousand songs arise of hope and cheer, When thou art near, When thou art near, A thousand songs arise of hope and cheer, More, sweet, more sweet than anthems are. Lenore, when thou art near! |