From “Bitter Sweet”, 1929
Words and music Noel Coward
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Once upon a time
Many years ago
Lived a fair Princess
Hating to confess
Loneliness was torturing her so
Then a gipsy came
Called to her by name
Woo’d her with a song
Sensuous and strong
All the summer long
Her passion seemed to tremble
Like a living frame
Refrain
Play to me beneath the summer moon
Zigeuner! Zigeuner! Zigeuner!
All I ask of life is just to listen
To the songs that you sing
My spirit like a bird on the wing
Your melodies adoring – soaring
Call to me with some barbaric tune
Zigeuner! Zigeuner! Zigeuner!
Now you have me in your power
Play to me for just an hour
Zigeuner!
- Bid my weeping cease
Melody that brings
Merciful release
Promises of peace
Through the gentle throbbing of the strings
Music of the plain
Music of the wild
Come to me again
Hear me not in vain
Soothe a heart in pain
And let me to my happiness be reconciled