The Fireman (John Cornwall)

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• (Posted 2023-10-05)  CPDL #76084:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-05).   Score information: Letter, 20 pages, 869 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Fireman
Composer: John Cornwall
Lyricist: Edward Foskett^{create page}
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1883 Novello, Ewer, and Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

The city slept, and silence reigned
Supreme in solemn might,
When suddenly, a cry of “Fire!”
Burst the bondage of the night.

“Fire! Fire!” the awful cry again
Rings through the murky air,
And night’s stragglers hurry forward
Asking each other “where?”

Look, Look! from yonder casement
Darts forth the ruddy gleam,
And sleepers waken, starting up
As from a fearful dream.

Run for the engines! The escape!
Aye, aye! and through the more
The swift of foot rush madly on,
Shouting the cry of “Fire!”

They come, they come, make clear the way!
The engines dash along,
Manned by the truly brave, whose deeds
Shall henceforth live in song.

The escape is quickly hoisted,
But the flames are spreading fast,
Hurrah! they reach them!
Still hurrah! for all are safe at last.

“No, no, not all!” a woman shrieks
“Poor Nellie is not here!”
Poor Nellie in her little room,
With none to help her near.

“O save her! Save her!”
’Tis too late, is said by someone nigh;
But a brave man answers nobly,
“It’s not to late to try!”

See! he swiftly scales the ladder,
Looks a moment with amaze,
Then darts through the crackling window,
To find the stairs ablaze;

But still undaunted on he goes,
For he hears a cry above,
And in him stirs the motion
Of a mortal’s godlike love.

Both will be lost is now the fear;
But see! from out the flame
The hero fireman now appears
With the trophy of his fame:

She’s saved, she’s saved, she’s saved!
Honour to him who dared to save or die,
Honour to all who act thro’ life,
But a brave man answers nobly, it’s not too late to try!