A Song of Flight

"A Song of Flight" is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1895, as his Op.31, No.2, with the words from a poem by Christina Rossetti.

The song was first performed by the Irish baritone Harry Plunket Greene in St. James's Hall on 2nd March 1900, together with After, Op. 31, No. 1.

Lyrics

A SONG OF FLIGHT

:While we slumber and sleep:The sun leaps up from the deep.:Daylight born at the leap!::Rapid, dominant, free,::Athirst to bathe in the uttermost sea.

:While we linger at play,:If the year would stand at May!:Winds are up and away::Over land, over sea,::To their goal wherever their goal may be.

:It is time to arise:To race for the promised prize,:The Sun flies, the Wind flies.::We are strong, we are free,::And home lies beyond the stars and the sea.

References

*Banfield, Stephen, "Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century" (Cambridge University Press, 1985) ISBN 052137944X

*Michael Kennedy, "Portrait of Elgar" (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0193154145

External links