Menuet

A popular song from 1912
French lyrics by Fernand Gregh
English lyrics by M. Louise Baum
Music by Wm. Spencer Johnson


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by Denese Coulbeck:


Lyrics

The haunting voice of fond regret
That echoes thro’ the minuet
Sets me weeping
All tremulous the song I hear
The voice of vanish’d yesteryear
And of weeping

The spinet tone so shrill and frail
Like pattering of harvest hail
Melts and passes
A pale pastel that bloom’d erst-while
It comes to life to sigh and smile
And then passes

O pensive voice of secret tears
Of silent griefs, defying years
Shy and tender
Oh sighs upon the lips still-born
O sobbing nights that shun the morn
Proud and tender
Ye torture hearts that mindful be
With tunes of graceful mockery
Sweet and weary
O minuets that softly go
O sobs and laughter light and low
Kisses a weary