. . . I have a Dream By Night, By Day
From “The Enchantress”, 1911.
words by Harry B. Smith
music by Victor Herbert
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Framed in the glare of an arch bright and golden
A figure of fancy am I
Just like the slumbering Princess in olden Romances
My life passes by
Playing at passion, in poetry feigning
Striving and living for art
Men say “La Diva” is peerlessly reigning
But what has become of me – who knows?
And what has become of my heart?
Refrain
I have a dream by night, by day
‘Tis not of laurels fair
Dream of a song that’s still unsung
Waiting a poet rare
Fancy’s romances are my world
Ah, shall I meet perchance
The hand and the heart that shall lead me there
To the land of my own romance?
2. Carmen the Gypsy with love and hate flowing
The sorrow of Mignon so sweet
Elsa who sighed her Knight’s name to be knowing
Then brief joys of poor Marguerite
Lovelorn Isolde and Thais entrancing
Sing them for fame and for pelf
Living in heroine’s love and romancing
But where am I all this time – who knows?
And what has become of myself?
Sung here by Fred Feild: