Jeanna Murphy: Music
The Lady of Shalott
I LOVE this poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. It has followed me through my entire life ever since I was a little girl.
My mom had a huge book of English poetry that included Tennyson that I found on our bookshelf. It had been there as far back as I can remember.
Years later, I saw the Anne of Green Gables movie and Anne re-enacted the poem in a scene (if you're a 20 something year old female I know you know what I'm talking about and if you're a guy with sisters I'm sure you know too)
Then in high school I used it again for a monologue for a class project. Finally, in college I decided to really tie it to me for life and write music to the words that I'd loved so dearly. I incorporated it into my senior recital with my entire Overtones choir (sans 1) performing it and my choir director conducting it. This is the one and only recording of it that I have from 2003.
Wonderful memories of this one!
Willows whiten aspens quiver
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the waves that run forever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot
Four grey walls and four grey towers
Overlook a space of flowers
And the silent isle embowers the Lady of Shalott
There she weaves both night and day
A magic web with colors gay
She has heard a whisper say a curse be on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot
She knows not what the curse may be
And so she weaveth steadily
And little other care hath she the Lady of Shalott
A bow shot from her bower eaves
He rode between the barley sheaves
And flamed upon the barren greaves
Of bold Sir Lancelot
She left the web, she left the loom
She made three paces through the room
She saw the water lilly bloom
She saw the helmet and the plume
She looked down to Camelot
Out flew the web and floated wide
The mirror cracked from side to side
"The curse has come upon me!" cried the Lady of Shalott
Who is this and what is here and in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer
And they crossed themselves with fear all the knights at Camelot
Lancelot mused a little space
He said she had a lovely face
God in his mercy grant her grace the Lady of Shalott