I Envy The Bird 1897 'The Serenade'

James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 18 Jan 2004

I envy the bird within its cage,
whose song to her is not denied,
his love for her he may assuage,
by song, and in her presence may abide.
I envy the red rose in her hair;
the wand'ring breeze caressing her fair face;
but I, alas! can scarcely dare
to look upon her from my lowly place.

The bird, the breeze, the heedless flow'r,
can love her, she will not deny.
they by her side can dwell an hour,
and is their fashion softly sigh.
She welcomes to her maiden bow'r
the moon beam, and the butterfly;
Nature's rovers are her lovers,
Yes, all, all can love her,
can love her; why not I!

If I were a wand'ring zephyr light,
T'were sweet her snowy brow to kiss,
were I a moonbeam shining bright
to touch her rosy lips
should be my bliss.
But woe, woe is me,
and sad my lot.
For it is very clear I'm none of these;
And so 'tis plain that I cannot
be bold as can the moonbeam or the breeze.

The bird, the breeze, the heedless flow'r,
can love her, she will not deny.
they by her side can dwell an hour,
and is their fashion softly sigh.
She welcomes to her maiden bow'r
the moon beam, and the butterfly;
Nature's rovers are her lovers,
Yes, all, all can love her,
can love her; why not I!

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
*
I Envy The Bird 1897
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith
Music by Victor Herbert
copyright 1897 by Edward Schuberth & Co.
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Sunday 18 January 2004 at 13.05
in association with Doug Grierson
*
"The Serenade." - Comic Opera.
Libretto by Harry B. Smith. Music by Victor Herbert.
Victor Herbert Publication: New York: Edward Schuberth & Co.
1897
*