A Life Lesson

For Two-part Treble Voices with Keyboard Accompaniment

click image for sample pages

"A Life Lesson" is one of three James Whitcomb Riley poems that I have set for treble voices with keyboard accompaniment.  It may be performed as an individual octavo or as a set of songs in the following order:

The Bumblebee
A Life Lesson
Granny


Poem by James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

There! little girl; don't cry!
They have broken your doll, I know;
And your tea-set blue,
And your play-house too;
And things of the long ago;
But childish troubles will soon pass by. -
There! little girl; don't cry!

There! little girl; don't cry!
They have broken your slate, I know;
And the glad, wild ways
Of your schoolgirl days
Are things of the long ago;
But life and love will soon come by, -
There! little girl; don't cry!

There! little girl; don't cry!
They have broken your heart, I know;
And the rainbow gleams
Of your youthful dreams
Are things of the long ago;
But Heaven holds all for which you sigh. -
There! little girl; don't cry!