From the comic opera “Sweethearts”, 1913.
Words and music by Victor Herbert.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Now on the air a solemn silence falls
And holds me in its spell
Softly the angelus to prayer now calls
With comfort in its knell
Rev’rently kneeling
For guidance I pray
And humbly appealing
To show me the way
Oh, give me the guiding hand which I so need
For that only I plead
Send knowledge unto my wond’ring heart
And unto the darkness light impart
Grant me some token
Some word that’s spoken
One that will be help to me
Sylvia! what magic charm
My heart is hers! my hour has come
For every lover must meet his fate
I for that hour no longer wait
As all surrender (Who would defy?)
To tempting kisses tender, so will I, Ah!
Ave Maria
Send knowledge unto my wond’ring heart
Oh! unto the darkness light impart, Ah!
Ave Maria
Sung here by Fred Feild: