Lyr Add: Mother's Lament

23 Sep 00 - 09:27 PM (#304136)
Subject: Lyr Add: MOTHER'S LAMENT^^
From: Uncle Jaque

Here's another "mouldy Oldie" from the archival vaults. This one comes from a book of songs published in the 1840s when sentimental "Tearjerkers" were apparently all the rage. This one about sent me to the tissue-box, begads. The score as written is pretty convoluted and nondescript as many tunes of the period were, but when sung to the tune of "Sweet Afton" (which was around and popular when this book was published) or "Away in a Manger", it'll rip a sob out of the hardest of hearts. Death was a major player in life in the early 1800s; out of a family of 12 children you would be fortunate to get 5 to adulthood, and epidemics regularly swept the population with cruel indifference toward age or innocence.

"MOTHER'S LAMENT"
Arranged from "Chants Chrétiens"
(Key of "C", 3/4)
Chord Progression: "Sweet Afton"(I use): G/C/G/Em/Am/G/D/;D/G/(7)/C/G/Em/Am/D7/G.

1. Yon spot in the churchyard, How sad is the bloom
That summer flings round it, In flowers and perfume:
It is thy dust, my darling, Gives life to each rose,
'T is because thou hast withered, The violet blows.

2. The lilies bend meekly Thy bosom above,
But thou wilt not pluck them, Sweet child of my love:
I see the green willow Droop low o'er thy bed,
But I see not the ringlets That decked thy fair head.

3. I hear the bee humming Around thy bright grave:
Can he deem death is hidden Where sweet flow'rets wave?
From the white cloud above thee The lark scatters song,
But I list for thy voice, O, how long! O, how long!

4. Then come back, my darling, And come back to-day,
For the soul of thy mother grows faint with delay;
The home of thy childhood In order is set,
The couch and the chamber—Why com'st thou not yet?

5. Dear child! thou wilt never Return unto me,
But we part not forever—I go unto thee.
My Saviour stands smiling With thee on his breast,
And in his compassion My heart shall find rest.

Author / Writer unknown. From an archival book of Hymns & Chants, no surviving date (Estimated 1840s), collection of John C. Clarke, Yarmouth ME. ^^

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24 Sep 00 - 05:44 AM (#304294)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Mother's Lament'
From: Stewie

Not without its charm - and pathos. 'How sad is the bloom that summer flings round it' is a lovely image. Thanks.

--Stewie.

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