The Mountains Are Dancing

"The Mountains Are Dancing" is a song of John Duke from 1955. The song sets the poem "when faces called flowers float out of the ground" by e. e. cummings.

The poem was originally published in e. e. cummings' book XAIPE of 1950. The song is included in the collection Richard Cory and Selected Songs, edited by Paul Sperry and published by Carl Fischer.

Date: 1955Composer: John Woods DukeText: E. E. Cummings

Print vitals & song text

Text

when faces called flowers float out of the ground
by e. e. cummings

when faces called flowers float out of the ground
and breathing is wishing and wishing is having-
but keeping is downward and doubting and never
-it’s april(yes,april;my darling)it’s spring!
yes the pretty birds frolic as spry as can fly
yes the little fish gambol as glad as can be
(yes the mountains are dancing together)

when every leaf opens without any sound
and wishing is having and having is giving-
but keeping is doting and nothing and nonsense
-alive;we’re alive,dear:it’s(kiss me now)spring!
now the pretty birds hover so she and so he
now the little fish quiver so you and so i
(now the mountains are dancing, the mountains)

when more than was lost has been found has been found
and having is giving and giving is living-
but keeping is darkness and winter and cringing
-it’s spring(all our night becomes day)o,it’s spring!
all the pretty birds dive to the heart of the sky
all the little fish climb through the mind of the sea
(all the mountains are dancing;are dancing)

–E. E. Cummings: The Complete Poems, 1904-1962, p. 665

Books

Sheet Music

Richard Cory & Selected Songs

Composer(s): John Duke

Song(s): Richard Cory
Calvary
Luke Havergal
Miniver Cheevy
Bells in the Rain
Velvet Shoes
Viennese Waltz
Evening
Just-Spring
When I Set Out for Lyonnesse
Yellow Hair
Morning in Paris
In the Fields
The Mountains Are Dancing
Spring Thunder
Be Still As You Are Beautiful
One Red Rose
O World
The Song of Wandering Aengus
Brown Penny

Voice Type: Mixed

Buy via Carl Fischer Music

Support us and help us grow

Dear friends, Thank you for helping us build a comprehensive online archive of American song. Your gift is greatly appreciated.