Squire Norton's Song [DICKENS poem set to music]
Channel: tobydarling
Date: 2019-12-11

Squire Norton's Song - Poem by Charles Dickens
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The child and the old man sat alone
G F Am
In the quiet, peaceful shade
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Of the old green boughs, that had richly grown
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In the deep, thick forest glade.
Em Am
It was a soft and pleasant sound,
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That rustling of the oak;
C G
And the gentle breeze played lightly round
Am D
As thus the fair boy spoke:-

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'Dear father, what can honour be,
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Of which I hear men rave?
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Field, cell and cloister, land and sea,
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The tempest and the grave:-
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It lives in all, 'tis sought in each,
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'Tis never heard or seen:
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Now tell me, father, I beseech,
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What can this honour mean?'

'It is a name - a name, my child -
It lived in other days,
When men were rude, their passions wild,
Their sport, thick battle-frays.
When, in armour bright, the warrior bold
Knelt to his lady's eyes:
Beneath the abbey pavement old
That warrior's dust now lies.

'The iron hearts of that old day
Have mouldered in the grave;
And chivalry has passed away,
With knights so true and brave;
The honour, which to them was life,
Throbs in no bosom now;
It only gilds the gambler's strife,
Or decks the worthless vow.' 

Charles Dickens

Fmaj7: xx355
C: x3x55x
G: 3x54xx
F: 1x32xx

Made for non-commercial use only. Will be removed immediately at the request of any copyright holders.Made for non-commercial use only. Will be removed immediately at the request of any copyright holders.