A Song of Autumn

A Song of Autumn è una poesia di Adam Lindsay Gordon messa in musica da Edward Elgar nel 1892.

La canzone è stata dedicata da Elgar a "Miss Marshall". Fu pubblicata per la prima volta da Orsborn & Tuckwood, poi da Ascherberg nel 1892 prima di essere ripubblicato nel 1907 come uno dei Seven Lieder, con parole inglesi e tedesche (parole tedesche di Edward Sachs).

«Herbstlied Wo soll ich pflücken den Blumenstrauss, Wenn der Herbst zieht in das Land, Wenn die dürren Blätter gelb sind und kraus, Und der Büsche Grün verschwand? Wo sind die einst schmückten unser Haus, Und wann sind die neuen zur Hand? Wo soll ich pflücken den Blumenstrauss, Wenn der Herbst zieht in das Land?

Kind! kann ich sagen wo Blumen blüh'n? Wohin Blatt, wohin Blüte schwand? Ob sie fielen unter der Sonne Glühn, Ob die Winde sie streuten ins Land? Frühling bringt Blumen für dich, mein Kind, Pflücke sie mit der weissen Hand; Doch ich werde ruh'n, wo die Blätter sind, Wenn der Herbst zieht in das Land.»

«A Song of Autumn Where shall we go for our garlands glad At the falling of the year, When the burnt-up banks are yellow and sad, When the boughs are yellow and sere? Where are the old ones that once we had, And where are the new ones near? What shall we do for our garlands glad At the falling of the year?

Child! can I tell where the garlands go? Can I say where the lost leaves veer On the brown-burnt banks, when the wild winds blow, When they drift through the dead-wood drear? Girl! When the garlands of next year glow, You may gather again, my dear— But I go where the last year's lost leaves go At the falling of the year.»

Seven Lieder (1885-1894): "Like to the Damask Rose" (1892), "Queen Mary's Song" (1889), "A Song of Autumn" (1892), "The Poet's Life" (1892), "Through the Long Days" (1885), "Rondel" (1894), "The Shepherd's Song" (1892)

"Is she not passing fair?" (1886) · "As I laye a-thynkynge" (1888) · "The Wind at Dawn" (1888) · "The Shepherd's Song" (1892) · "After" (1900) · "A Song of Flight" (1900)

Sea Pictures (1899): "Sea Slumber Song", "In Haven", "Sabbath Morning at Sea", "Where Corals Lie", "The Swimmer" (1897–99)

"Dry those fair, those crystal eyes" (1899) · The Pipes of Pan (1899) · "Always and Everywhere" (1901) · "Come, Gentle Night!" (1901) · "In the Dawn" (1901) · "Speak, Music!" (1901) · "There are seven that pull the thread" (1901) · "In Moonlight" ((1904) · "Follow the Colours" (1907) · "Pleading" (1908) · "A Child Asleep" (1909) · "Oh, soft was the song" (1910) · "Was it some Golden Star?" (1910) · "Twilight" (1910) · "The Chariots of the Lord" (1914) · "Fight for Right" (1916) · "Inside the Bar" (1917)

The Fringes of the Fleet (1916): "The Lowestoft Boat", "Fate's Discourtesy", "Submarines", "The Sweepers"

Pageant of Empire (1924): "The Blue Mountains", "Shakespeare's Kingdom", "The Islands", "The Heart of Canada", "Sailing Westward", "Merchant Adventurers", "The Immortal Legions", "A Song of Union", "The Immortal Legions"