The Village Street Lyrics

In these rapid restless shadows

Once I walked at eventide

When a gentle silent maiden

Walked in beauty at my side

She alone there walked beside me

All in beauty like a bride

Pallidly the moon was shining

On the dewy meadows nigh

On the silvery silent rivers

On the mountains far and high

On the ocean's star-lit waters

Where the winds a-weary die

Slowly silently we wandered

From the open cottage door

Underneath the elm's long branches

To the pavement bending o'er

Underneath the mossy willow

And the dying sycamore

With the myriad stars in beauty

All bedight the heavens were seen

Radiant hopes were bright around me

Like the light of stars serene

Like the mellow midnight splendor

Of the Night's irradiate queen

Audibly the elm-leaves whispered

Peaceful pleasant melodies

Like the distant murmured music

Of unquiet lovely seas:

While the winds were hushed in slumber

In the fragrant flowers and trees

Wondrous and unwonted beauty

Still adorning all did seem

While I told my love in fables

'Neath the willows by the stream

Would the heart have kept unspoken

Love that was its rarest dream!

Instantly away we wandered

In the shadowy twilight tide

She the silent scornful maiden

Walking calmly at my side

With a step serene and stately

All in beauty all in pride

Vacantly I walked beside her

On the earth mine eyes were cast

Swift and keen there came unto me

Ritter memories of the past

On me like the rain in Autumn

On the dead leaves cold and fast

Underneath the mossy willow

By the lowly cottage door

One brief word alone was uttered

Never on our lips before

And away I walked forlornly

Broken-hearted evermore

Slowly silently I loitered

Homeward in the night alone

Sudden anguish bound my spirit

That my youth had never known

Wild unrest like that which cometh

When the Night's first dream hath flown

Now to me the elm-leaves whisper

Mad discordant melodies

And keen melodies like shadows

Haunt the moaning willow trees

And the sycamores with laughter

Mock me in the nightly breeze

Sad and pale the Autumn moonlight

Through the sighing foliage streams

And each morning midnight shadow

Shadow of my sorrow seems

Strive 0 heart forget thine idol!

And 0 soul forget thy dreams!

Instantly away we wandered

In the shadowy twilight tide

She the silent scornful maiden

Walking calmly at my side

With a step serene and stately

All in beauty all in pride

Vacantly the elms we parted

By the lowly cottage door

One brief word alone was uttered

Never on our lips before

And away I walked forlornly

Broken-hearted evermore

Slowly silently I loitered

Homeward in the night alone

Sudden anguish bound my spirit

That my youth had never known

Wild unrest like that which cometh

When the Night's first dream hath flown

Now to me the elm-leaves whisper

Mad discordant melodies

And keen melodies like shadows

Haunt the moaning willow trees

And the sycamores with laughter

Mock me in the nightly breeze

Sad and pale the Autumn moonlight

Through the sighing foliage streams

And each morning midnight shadow

Shadow of my sorrow seems

Strive 0 heart forget thine idol!

And 0 soul forget thy dreams!