| (1986/90) Revised in 1990 with the expert tutelage of well-known American composer Elie Siegmeister, who became a personal friend, and who recommended a close study of Charles Ives' songs. Here my Lewis Carroll Songs are sung by Helene Williams, soprano with me at the piano. The set is five songs, and this excerpt is the first three. Score available through music dealers or Seesaw Music Corp., 2067 Broadway, NYC 10023 (212) 874-1200. |
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Lyrics
I. MY FAIRY
I HAVE a fairy by my side
Which says I must not sleep,
When once in pain I loudly cried
It said "You must not weep."
If full of mirth, I smile and grin,
It says "You must not laugh."
When once I wished to drink some gin
It said "You must not quaff."
When once a meal I wished to taste
It said "You musit not bite;"
When to the wars I went in haste
It said "You must not fight."
"What may I do?" at length I cried,
Tired of the painful task.
The fairy quietly replied,
And said "You must not ask."
II. Rules and Regulations
(... = text omitted from original poems)
A SHORT direction
To avoid dejection,
By variatios
In occupation,
And prolongation
Of relaxation,
And combinations
Of recreations,
And disputation
On the state of the nation
...
Learn well your grammar,
And never stammer,
Write well and neatly,
And sing most sweetly,
Be enterprising,
Love early rising,
Go walk of six miles,
Have ready quick smiles,
With lightsome laughter,
Soft flowing after.
...
Take care of a candle.
Shut a door by the handle,
Don't push with your shoulder
Until you are older.
Lose not a button.
Refuse cold mutton.
Starve your canaries.
Believe in fairies.
If you are able,
Don't have a stable
With any mangers.
Be rude to strangers.
III. THE MOCK TURTLE'S SONG
BENEATH the waters of the sea
Are lobsters thick as thick can be--
They love to dance with you and me,
My own, my gentle Salmon!
CHORUS
Salmon, come up! Salmon go down!
Salmon, come twist your tail around!
Of all the fishes of the sea
There's none so good as Salmon!
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