The Sky Above the Roof (Ralph Vaughan Williams) - Zachary Coddington

Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Sky Above the Roof," set to text by Paul Verlaine, translated by Mabel Dreamer. Performed by Zachary Coddington '19 on 12/2/18 as part of the Bowdoin College Chamber Choir's fall semester concert.

Lyrics:

The sky above the roof
Is calm and sweet
A tree above the roof
Bends in the heat

A bell from out the blue
Drowsily rings
A bird from out the blue
Plaintively sings

Ah God! A life is here
Simple and fair
Murmurs of strife are here
Lost in the air

Why dost thou weep
Oh, heart
Poured out in tears?
What hast thou done
Oh, heart
With thy spent years?