The first published song of Stephen Foster, 1844.
words and music by Stephen C. Foster
From The Stephen Foster Song Book: Foster was eighteen years old when he found this poem in the newspaper. It is a love song full of youthful ardor and romantic images. The musical setting is discreet and pleasant. All in all, a natural for the American parlor trade at that time. He dedicated it to a local singer in Pittsburgh.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by W. Tomaschewski:
Lyrics
- Open thy lattice, love listen to me
The cool balmy breeze is abroad on the sea
The moon like a queen, roams her realms of blue
And the stars keep their vigils in heaven for you
Ere morn’s gushing light tips the bills with its ray
Away o’er the waters away and away
Then open thy lattice, love listen to me
While the moon’s in the sky
And the breeze on the sea - Open thy lattice, love listen to me
In the voyage of life, love our pilot will be
He will sit at the helm wherever we rove
And steer by the load-star he kindled above
His shell for a shallop will cut the bright spray
Or skim like a bird o’er the waters away
Then open thy lattice, love listen to me
While the moon’s in the sky
And the breeze on the sea
Sung here by Fred Feild: