by John Donne (1572 - 1631)
Send home my long‑strayed eyes to me
Language: English
Send home my long-strayed eyes to me, Which (oh) too long have dwelt on thee: Yet since there they have learned such ill, Such forced fashions, And false passions, That they be Made by thee Fit for no good sight, keep them still. Send home my harmless heart again, Which no unworthy thought could stain, But if it be taught by thine To make jestings Of protestings, And cross both Word and oath, Keep it, for then 'tis none of mine. Yet send me back my heart and eyes, That I may know, and see thy lies, And may laugh and joy, when thou Art in anguish And dost languish For some one That will none, Or prove as false as thou art now.
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Authorship:
- by John Donne (1572 - 1631), "The message" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Benjamin C. S. Boyle , "The message", op. 25 no. 2, published 2011, from Folksongs from another World, no. 2, voice and piano [sung text not yet checked]
- by (William) Havergal Brian (1876 - 1972), "The message", op. 6 (Three songs) no. 2 [ contralto or baritone and piano ], note: could be wrong text for this opus [sung text not yet checked]
- by Giovanni Coprario, né John Cooper (c1570 - 1626), "The message", published 1961 [sung text not yet checked]
- by William Flanagan (1923 - 1969), "Send home my long-strayed eyes to me", 1949 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Lee Hoiby (1926 - 2011), "The message", 1977 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-11-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 124