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The Green Trees Whispered Lyrics by Michael William Balfe

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Pleasant it was, when woods were green
And winds were soft and low
To lie amid some sylvan scene
Where, the long drooping boughs between
Shadows dark and sunlight sheen
Alternate come and go;
Or where the denser grove receives
No sunlight from above
But the dark foliage interweaves
In one unbroken roof of leaves
Underneath whose sloping eaves
The shadows hardly movе
Beneath some patriarchal tree
I lay upon thе ground;
His hoary arms uplifted he
And all the broad leaves over me
Clapped their little hands in glee
With one continuous sound;--
A slumberous sound, a sound that brings
The feelings of a dream
As of innumerable wings
As, when a bell no longer swings
Faint the hollow murmur rings
O'er meadow, lake, and stream
And dreams of that which cannot die
Bright visions, came to me
As lapped in thought I used to lie
And gaze into the summer sky
Where the sailing clouds went by
Like ships upon the sea;
Dreams that the soul of youth engage
Ere Fancy has been quelled;
Old legends of the monkish page
Traditions of the saint and sage
Tales that have the rime of age
And chronicles of Eld
And, loving still these quaint old themes
Even in the city's throng
I feel the freshness of the streams
That, crossed by shades and sunny gleams
Water the green land of dreams
The holy land of song
Therefore, at Pentecost, which brings
The Spring, clothed like a bride
When nestling buds unfold their wings
And bishop's-caps have golden rings
Musing upon many things
I sought the woodlands wide
The green trees whispered low and mild;
It was a sound of joy!
They were my playmates when a child
And rocked me in their arms so wild!
Still they looked at me and smiled
As if I were a boy;
And ever whispered, mild and low
"Come, be a child once more!"
And waved their long arms to and fro
And beckoned solemnly and slow;
Oh, I could not choose but go
Into the woodlands hoar,--
Into the blithe and breathing air
Into the solemn wood
Solemn and silent everywhere!
Nature with folded hands seemed there
Kneeling at her evening prayer!
Like one in prayer I stood
Before me rose an avenue
Of tall and sombrous pines;
Abroad their fan-like branches grew
And, where the sunshine darted through
Spread a vapor soft and blue
In long and sloping lines
And, falling on my weary brain
Like a fast-falling shower
The dreams of youth came back again
Low lispings of the summer rain
Dropping on the ripened grain
As once upon the flower
Visions of childhood! Stay, Oh, stay!
Ye were so sweet and wild!
And distant voices seemed to say
"It cannot be! They pass away!
Other themes demand thy lay;
Thou art no more a child!
"The land of Song within thee lies
Watered by living springs;
The lids of Fancy's sleepless eyes
Are gates unto that Paradise;
Holy thoughts, like stars, arise;
Its clouds are angels' wings
"Learn, that henceforth thy song shall be
Not mountains capped with snow
Nor forests sounding like the sea
Nor rivers flowing ceaselessly
Where the woodlands bend to see
The bending heavens below
"There is a forest where the din
Of iron branches sounds!
A mighty river roars between
And whosoever looks therein
Sees the heavens all black with sin
Sees not its depths, nor bounds
"Athwart the swinging branches cast
Soft rays of sunshine pour;
Then comes the fearful wintry blast;
Our hopes, like withered leaves, fall fast;
Pallid lips say, 'It is past!
We can return no more!"
"Look, then, into thine heart, and write!
Yes, into Life's deep stream!
All forms of sorrow and delight
All solemn Voices of the Night
That can soothe thee, or affright,--
Be these henceforth thy theme."
Credits
Michael William Balfe

Michael William Balfe

About “The Green Trees Whispered” by Michael William Balfe

Read the complete lyrics to "The Green Trees Whispered" by Michael William Balfe. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"The Green Trees Whispered" is performed by Michael William Balfe. This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "The Green Trees Whispered", explore more songs by Michael William Balfe using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"The Green Trees Whispered" is credited to Michael William Balfe. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

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