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A Night Battle Lyrics by Ned Rorem

War Scenes

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What scene is this? -- is this indeed humanity -- these butchers' shambles? There they lie, in an open space in the woods, 300 poor fellows -- the groans and screams mixed with the fresh scent of the night, that slaughter-house! O well is it their mothers cannot see them. Some have their legs blown off -- some bullets through the breast -- some indescribably horrid wounds in the face or head, all mutilated, sickening, torn, gougеd out -- some mere boys-- thеy take their turns with the rest. Such is the camp of the wounded while over all the clear, large moon comes out at times softly, amid the crack and crash and yelling sounds the clear-obscure up
There, those buoyant upper oceans -- a few large placid stars beyond
Coming languidly out, and then disappearing -- the melancholy, draperied night around. And there, upon the roads and in those woods, that contest, never one more desperate in any age or land
What history, I say, can ever give -- for who can know -- the mad
Determin'd tussle of the armies? Who know the conflict in flashing-moonbeam'd woods -- the writhing squads -- the cries, the din, the distant cannon -- the cheers and calls and threats and awful music of the oaths -- the indescribable mix -- the officers' orders, the devils fully rous'd in human hearts -- the strong shout, Charge, men, charge and still again the moonlight pouring silvery soft its radiant patches over all. Who paint the scene, the sudden partial panic of the afternoon, at dusk? Who paint the scene, the sudden partial panic of the afternoon, at dusk?
Credits
Ned Rorem

Ned Rorem

About “A Night Battle” by Ned Rorem

Read the complete lyrics to "A Night Battle" by Ned Rorem from the album "War Scenes". 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.

"A Night Battle" is performed by Ned Rorem. from the album "War Scenes" 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 "A Night Battle", explore more songs by Ned Rorem 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

"A Night Battle" is credited to Ned Rorem. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Night Battle" appears on "War Scenes".

Visit the Ned Rorem artist page at /artist/ned-rorem for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.