Lyrics Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress / Act 1 / Scene 3 - "No word from Tom" - Cathryn Pope, Stafford Dean, London Sinfonietta

Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress / Act 1 / Scene 3 - "No word from Tom"

No word from Tom
Has love no voice, can love not keep
A Maytime vow in cities?
Fades it as the rose
Cut for a rich display?
Forgot!
But no, to weep is not enough
He needs my help
Love hears, Love knows
Love answers him across the silent miles, and goes
Quietly, night
O find him and caress
And may thou quiet find
His heart, although it be unkind
Nor may its beat confess
Although I weep, although I weep, although I weep
It knows, it knows of loneliness
Guide me, O moon
Chastely when I depart
And warmly be the same
He watches without grief or shame
It cannot, cannot be thou art
A colder moon, a colder moon upon a colder heart
My father!
Can I desert him
And his devotion for a love who has deserted me?
No, my father has strength of purpose
While Tom is weak and needs the comfort of a helping hand
O God, protect dear Tom, support my father, and strengthen my resolve
I go, I go to him
Love cannot falter
Cannot desert
Though it be shunned
Or be forgotten
Though it be hurt
If Love be love
It will not alter
Though it be shunned
Or be forgotten
Though it be hurt
If love be love
It will not alter
If love be love
If love be love
It will not alter
It will not alter
It will not alter
O should I see
My love in need
It shall not matter
It shall not matter
What he may be
I go, I go to him
Love cannot falter
Cannot desert
Cannot falter
Cannot desert
Cannot desert
Time cannot alter
Cannot, cannot, cannot alter
A loving heart
An ever-loving heart