|
19 Jul 10 - 11:07 PM (#2948035) Subject: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: Haruo This is apparently the first line of the original (secular) song for which George J. Webb (an associate of Lowell Mason's) composed the tune now generally called WEBB (or, especially in Britain, MORNING LIGHT) and associated with the hymn texts "Stand up, stand up for Jesus" and "The morning light is breaking"). But I have been unable to locate the rest of the text. Anybody out there have it in postable form? Haruo |
|
20 Jul 10 - 03:37 PM (#2948505) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: Artful Codger A simple Google Books search turned up the song, with music, in The Boston Melodeon, p. 59 The Odeon, p. 8 |
|
20 Jul 10 - 05:31 PM (#2948569) Subject: Lyr Add: 'TIS DAWN, THE LARK IS SINGING From: GUEST,leeneia Thanks for the links, Artful. I've taken the lyrics from Odeon. A word with a - after it means it gets two syllables. 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing Tis dawn, the lark is singing, sweet chorister of morn. And in yon dell are ringing soft notes from ev'ry thorn. Tis eve and to the sky the lark doth send his hymn-, and joyous melody- breaks from the valley dim. The birds, they seem to send- their sweetest notes on high for benefits that blend- their being with the sky. And, oh, may I bestow my first, last thought on heaven and may my bosom glow- with thanks each morn and even! If I were going to sing this in church, I would modernize it, thus: At dawn, the lark is singing, sweet chorister of morn. And in the dell are ringing soft notes from ev'ry thorn. At eve up to the sky the lark directs its hymn-, and joyous melody- soars from the valley dim. The birds, they seem to send- their sweetest notes on high for benefits that blend- their being with the sky. And, oh, may I bestow my first, last thought on heaven and may my spirit glow- with joy each morn and even! ------------- You know, given these new words, I could almost get to like this tune. PS On the Odeon version, the melody is the top line of the piano part. |
|
21 Jul 10 - 02:05 AM (#2948757) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: Haruo Well, actually the Lyr ADD is in the previous post. Thanks, both of you. Don't know why my search didn't turn it up. leeneia, why would you change "'Tis" to "At"? ("yon" to "the" I understand) And shouldn't there be a "-" after "sky" in the first verse (both versions) and after "bestow" in the the second verse (again, both versions)? I agree that this is a nice set of lyrics; I am surprised it took so long for me to become aware of it. |
|
21 Jul 10 - 11:44 AM (#2949096) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: GUEST,leeneia I changed 'Tis to At because my own feeling is that 'Tis is precious and old-fashioned, was even archaic when the song was written. As such, it distracts from the deeper message of the song. Rather like a ruffle on a football jersey. 'Sky' and 'bestow' would not get a - in the version of the tune which I happen to know. I too am surprised by these nice lyrics. Thanks for bringing the matter up. |
|
21 Jul 10 - 12:30 PM (#2949127) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: Joe Offer "Precious and old-fashioned"??? 'Tisn't. 'Tain't so! love, -Joe- |
|
21 Jul 10 - 05:35 PM (#2949357) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: Artful Codger There's always the prosaic "It's", which maintains the meaning exactly and maintains the parallel importance of the phrases, rather than making one subservient to the other. A minor point, perhaps... |
|
22 Jul 10 - 05:42 AM (#2949609) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis dawn, the lark is singing From: GUEST,leeneia No, Artful, that's a good point. I've remembered another reason why I changed 'Tis to At. "'Tis dawn" is a complete sentence, and it's followed by a comma. Commas indicates breaks in the flow of speech. 'At dawn' is a mere prepositional phrase, and it calls for a subtler break. I wanted to get rid of the thudding march sound of 'Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus,' so I went for the prepositional phrase. Time and the folk process will tell which form wins out at my house. ====== Joe - excellent point. :) |
|
30 Aug 10 - 01:09 AM (#2975653) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis Dawn, the Lark Is Singing (G J Webb) From: Haruo Very likely going to sing it Oct 24 at Evergreen Hymn-Sing #4 (Foot-Stompin' Hymns), Fremont Baptist Church, Seattle. Haruo |
|
22 Oct 10 - 05:13 AM (#3012822) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tis Dawn, the Lark Is Singing (G J Webb) From: Haruo Yes, we will be singing it on Sunday. Come join us if you're in the area. Fremont Baptist Church, 717 N 36th St, Seattle - 2 pm Oct 24 Haruo |