I Will Lie Down in Autumn

"I Will Lie Down in Autumn" is a song by Howard Swanson setting a poem of May Swenson.

Date: 1952Composer: Howard SwansonText: May Swenson

Print vitals & song text

Text

I Will Lie Down
by May Swenson

I will lie down in autumn
let birds be flying
Swept in a hollow by the wind
I’ll wait for dying
I will lie inert unseen
my hair same-colored with grass and leaves
Gather me for the autumn fires
with the withered sheaves
I will sleep face down in the burnt meadow
not hearing the sound of water over stones
Trail over me cloud and shadow
Let snow hide the whiteness of my bones

Related Information

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.