Farewell, My Love, Farewell

["Serenade" - Aria from Frasquita
Written: 1922; Vienna, Austria]

When the moon is shining white,
Through the darkness of the night,
Then I wait alone,
For love has flown;

And the music of the breeze,
As it wanders thro' the trees,
Whispers this refrain
‘All love is vain!'

When the silent shadows fall,
And the darkness covers all,
Distant echoes sigh
‘Goodbye! Goodbye!'

And the message of the dawn
As it steals across the lawn
Falls on dale and dell
‘Farewell, my love, farewell!'

Yet in the night, from dreams so fair,
I seem to wake to find you there!
And then around me your dear arms are thrown
You come to claim me for your own.

I swoon and sway to your desire,
Your love consumes me as a fire,
And as I float with you thro' realms unknown
I wake through sleep at last to find myself alone!

But the moon is shining white,
Thro' the darkness of the night,
And I wait alone
For love has flown;

And the message of the dawn,
As it steals across the lawn
Falls on dale and dell.
‘Farewell, Farewell!'