Name: Breathe, My Lute
Duration: P00H01M44S
Description: My setting of a very early poem by A.E. Housman, to be sung by Lady Jane Grey the night before her execution. I don't know what tune he might have used, so I wrote one.

Breathe, My Lute

from Tears of Morning by David A. Harley

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about

My setting of a very early poem by A.E. Housman, to be sung by Lady Jane Grey the night before her execution. I don't know what tune he might have used, so I wrote one.

lyrics

Breathe, my lute, beneath my fingers
One regretful breath,
One lament for life that lingers
Round the doors of death.
For the frost has killed the rose,
And our summer dies in snows,
And our morning once for all
Gathers to the evenfall.

Hush, my lute, return to sleeping,
Sing no songs again.
For the reaper stays his reaping
On the darkened plain;
And the day has drained its cup,
And the twilight cometh up;
Song and sorrow all that are
Slumber at the even-star.

credits

from Tears of Morning, released February 1, 2021
Words by A.E. Housman: setting by David A. Harley.

license

about

David A. Harley England, UK

David Harley is a former professional musician, administrator, IT security editor, author and researcher, and former much else that is even less impressive. He now lives in Cornwall. More info at whealalice.com