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The poem was set to music following Lincoln's death
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PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S FAVORITE POEM. COPIED BY F.B. CARPENTER, ESQ., WHILE OUR LAMENTED CHIEF WAS RECITING IT.
OH! WHY SHOULD THE SPIRIT OF MORTAL BE PROUD?
1, Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift, fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud, A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, He passeth from life to his rest in the grave. The leaves of the oak and willow shall fade, Be scattered around and together be laid, And the young and the old, and the low and the high, Shall moulder to dust, and together shall lie.
2. The infant and mother attended and loved; The mother that infant's affection who proved; The husband that mother and infant who blessed, Each, all, are away to their dwellings of rest. The hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne; The brow of the priest that the mitre hath worn; The eye of the sage and the heart of the brave, Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.
3. The peasant, whose lot was to sow and to reap; the herdsman, who climbed with his goats up the steep; The beggar, who wandered in search of his bread, Have faded away like the grass that we tread. So the multitude goes, like the flower of the weed, That withers away to let others succeed; So the multitude comes, even those we behold, To repeat every tale that has often been told.
4. For we are the same our fathers have been; We see the same sights our fathers have seen; We drink the same stream and view the same sun And run the same course our fathers have run. The thoughts we are thinking our fathers would think; From the death we are shrinking our fathers would shrink; To the life we are clinging they also would cling: But it speeds from us all, like a bird on the wing.
5. They loved, but the story we cannot unfold; They scorned, but the heart of the haughty is cold; They grieved, but no wail from their slumber will come; They joyed, but the tongue of their gladness is dumb. They died: ay! they died; we things that are now, that walk on the turf that lies over their brow, And make in their dwellings a transient abode, Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road.
6.Yea! hope and despondency, pleasure and pain, We mingle together in sunshine and rain; And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge, Still follow each other, like surge upon surge. 'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draught of a breath, From the blossoms of health to the paleness of death; From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud. Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Adapted to Music expressly composed by C. EVEREST. 3
Philadelphia: LEE & WALKER, 722 Chestnut St.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year [1865] by C. EVEREST in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
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OH! WHY SHOULD THE SPIRIT OR MORTAL BE PROUD? President Lincoln's Favorite Poem. Music by C. Everest.
VOICE. Moderato. PIANO
[sheet music]
Entered according to Act of Congress A.D. 1865 by C. Everest in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Penn.
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1. Oh! why should the spit [spirit] of mortal be proud? Like a
2. The infant and mother attended and loved; The
3. The peasant, whose lot was to sow and to reap; The
swift fleeting meteor, a fast flying cloud, A flash of the lightning, a
mother that infant's affection who proved. The husband that mother and
herdsman, who climed with his goats up the steep; the beggar, who wandered in
break of the wave, He passeth from life to his rest in the grave. The
infant who bless'd, Each, all, are away to their dwellings of rest. The
search of his bread, Have faded away like the grass that we tread. So the
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leaves of the oak and willow shall fade, Be scatter'd around and together
hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne; The brow of the priest that the
multitude goes, like the flow'r of the week, That withers away to let
be laid; And the young and the old, and the low and the high, Shall
mitre hath worn; The eye of the sage and the heart of the brave, Are
others succeed; So the multitude comes, even those we behold, To
moulder to dust and together shall lie.
hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.
repeat ev'ry tale that has often been told.
NEW AND BEAUTIFUL SONGS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY LEE & WALKER.
ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, MOTHER. Poetry by Thomas MacKellar; Music by William U. Butcher. "Kiss my little brother and my sisters, and tell them that I did for my country." Price, 30 cents. "On the field of battle, mother, All the night alone I lay, Angels watching o'er me, mother, Till the breaking of the day. I lay thinking of you, mother, And the loving ones at home, Till to our dear cottage, mother, Boy again, I seemed to come!" Those desirous of a really beautiful song, wedded to words of a tender and appealing character, will not be disappointed in this one. Arranged also for Guitar.
NO ONE TO LOVE. Music arranged by William B. Harvey. Price, 30 cents. "No one to love! none to caress! None to respond to this heart's tenderness! Sad in my heart, joy is unknown; For in my sorrow I'm weeping alone." The popularity of this song is almost beyond belief; it has reached the one hundredth thousand, and the demand is no way abating. It is a beautiful melody, within the reach of all, and the words are pretty. It is arranged in three keys,--viz.: B flat, A flat, and G,--and also for Guitar.
THE MOTHER'S REPLY. To "Rock me to Sleep." Composed by E. Mack. Price, 30 cents. "My child! my child! thou art weary tonight, Thy spirit is sad, and dim is the light; Thou wouldst call me back from the silent shore To the trials of life, to thy heart as of yore; Thou longest again for my loving care, For my kiss on thy lips, my hand on thy hair; But angels around thee their loving watch keep, And angels, my child, will 'rock thee to sleep'." A beautiful reply to the song "Rock me to Sleep," which has attained great celebrity. The songs and compositions generally of E. Mack are justly appreciated by the musical public; and this is one of his best productions. Also arranged for Guitar.
NEVER DESPOND. A reply to the popular song "No One to Love." Music and words by C. EVEREST. Price, 30 cents. "Never despond! joys are for thee; Time will reveal them, though hidden they be; Stay thy sad heart; soon will the day Dawn in its brightness and cheer thy lone way." Mr. Everest is well and favorably known as a popular composer and arranger of songs, and this, one of his last compositions, is really worthy the attention of lovers of pretty songs. It is also arranged with Guitar accompaniment.
BEAUTIFUL DAISIES, BRIGHTS GEMS OF THE EARTH! Song with chorus. Words and Music composed by J.S.C. Price, 30 cents. "Beautiful daisies, bright gems of the earth! Few are your virtues and little your worth; Yet, as I wander through by-way and lane, Gladly I welcome your smiling again." The subject of this song is only an humble flower; but the composer has produced charming words and an elegant song-melody to them. We can safely and cheerfully recommend it to the lovers of song. With an arrangement for Guitar.
THEY PRAY FOR US AT HOME. Song and chorus. Words by E. Rossiter; Music of B. Frank Walters. Price, 30 cents. On the Sunday after the battle of Cedar Mountain, as our wounded soldiers were lying in a church at Culpepper C.H. which had been taken for a hospital, one of the mortally-wounded whispered to a dying companion, "I wish there was some one here to pray for us!" to which his companion replied, "They are praying for us at home!" "Oh, would there were some kind one Who, on this Sabbath-day, Would breathe one prayer to cheer us As our spirits pass away!--If there only were some loved one to grasp us by the hand And whisper words of comfort As we leave this earthly strand!" The songs by Mr. Walters are very popular; and this is one worthy of his reputation.
TREAD LIGHTLY WHERE THE HERO SLEEPS. Words and Music composed by D.W. Belisle. Price, 30 cents. "Trend lightly here! this lonely grave Is now the resting place of one Who fought his country's flag to save, And fell with Freedom's armor on." A very easy and pretty song, with a flowing accompaniment, not difficult. It is recommended with safety as a fine parlor-song.
SHALL WE MEET AGAIN! Song and chorus. Written and composed by C. Everest. Price 30 cents. "Ever since from me you parted for the battle-plain, I have thought, near broken-hearted, Shall we meet again? In my dreams the cannons rattle, flashes light the sky; And I see in every battle banners floating high. Chorus--Morning, noon, and evening, As I pine in vain, Ever is my spirit breathing Shall we meet again!"
Our Publications can be had in all the Music-Stores in the Country. Should they not have the Pieces required, write directly to us, and we will cheerfully send the Music, post-paid, upon the receipt of the marked price. TEACHERS will find it to their advantage to send their orders to us; for in this department of our business especial attention is given.