Genius Child

"Genius Child" is the second song in Ricky Ian Gordon's song cycle Genius Child, which sets the poems of Langston Hughes.

Date: 1995Composer: Ricky Ian GordonText: Langston HughesSong Collection: Genius Child: A Cycle of 10 Songs

Print vitals & song text

Text

Genius Child
by Langston Hughes

This is a song for the genius child.
Sing it softly, for the song is wild.
Sing it softly as ever you can–
Lest the song get out of hand.

Nobody loves a genius child.

Can you love an eagle,
Tame or wild?

Wild or tame,
Can you love a monster
Of frightening name?

Nobody loves a genius child.

Kill him–and let his soul run wild!

–The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, p. 198

Books

Sheet Music

Genius Child

Composer(s): Ricky Ian Gordon

Song(s): 1. Winter Moon
2. Genius Child
3. Kid in the Park
4. To Be Somebody
5. Troubled Woman
6. Strange Hurt: Long Version
7. Strange Hurt: Short Version
8. Prayer
9. Border Line
10. My People
11. Joy

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