Historic Sheet Music Collection

Title

Curfew

Document Type

Score

Publication Date

1850

Comments

Poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Music by John Blockley

Boston (115 Washington St.): Published by Oliver Ditson

Some of these resources may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials should be seen in the context of the time period and as a reflection of the attitudes of the time. The items are part of the historical record, and do not represent the views of the libraries or the institution.

Lyrics

Solemnly, mournfully,
Dealing its dole,
The Curfew Bell
Is Beginning to toll.
Cover the embers,
And put out the light;
Toil comes with morning,
And rest with night.
Dark grow the windows
And quench’d is the fire,
Sound fades into silence
All footsteps retire;
No voice in the chambers,
No sound in the hall!
Sleep and oblivion
Reign over all.
Solemnly mournfully,
Dealing its dole,
The Curfew Bell
Is beginning to toll,
The Curfew Bell
Is beginning to toll.

The book is completed, and closed like the day,
And the hand that has written it lays it away;
Dim grow its fancies, forgotten they lie,
Like coals in the ashes, they darken and die.
The windows are darken’d, the hearth-stone is cold,
Song sinks into silence- The story is told.
Darker and darker, the black shadows fall;
Sleep and oblivion reign over all.
Solemnly, mournfully, dealing its dole,
The Curfew Bell is beginning to toll.

Download
COinS
 

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.