Always and Everywhere

”Always and Everywhere” is a song by the English composer Edward Elgar with words translated from the Polish of Zygmunt Krasiński by Frank H. Fortey.[1] It was composed and published in 1901.

The repeated ”Always and Everywhere” would have reminded the composer that the initials were those of his wife (Alice) and himself.[2]

Lyrics

ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE

O say not, when my earthly days are o’er,
That I have only caused thee sorrows sore ;
For I have wrecked my own life, even more,
Always and Everywhere.
O say not, when on earth I no more dwell,
That I have numbed thy young heart’s joyous swell ;
I, too, have quaffed the Poison-Cup of Hell,
Always and Everywhere.
But say, when soft the grasses o’er me wave,
That God is kind to hide me in the grave ;
For both my life and thine I did enslave,
Always and Everywhere.
But say, O say ! when my last hours depart,
That my poor life was one long frenzied smart ;
For I have loved thee, though with bitter heart,
Always and Everywhere.

Recordings

References

  1. Moore (p. 346) describes Fortey as "an elderly resident of Birmingham". However the 1901 census shows him a boarder at 15 Wharf Road, King's Norton (nor far from Birmingham), aged only 25. Frank H. Fortey was a translator of Polish literature. His main work was the poems of Mickiewicz.
  2. Moore, p.346
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