(1947) Gian Carlo Menotti

The sun is falling and it lies in blood
The moon is weaving bandages of gold
Old Black Swan where oh where is my lover now
Where oh where is my lover now

Torn and tattered is my bridal gown and my lamp is lost
With silver needles and with silver threads
The stars stitch a route for the dying sun
Old Black Swan where oh where is my lover now

I had given him a kiss and a golden ring
And a golden ring
I had given him a kiss of fire and a golden ring
Oh with silver needles and with silver threads
The stars stitch a route for the dying sun

Black Wing o Black Wing take me down with you
Take me down with you take me down with you
Take me down with you
Old Black Swan take me down with you
I had given him a kiss of fire
Take me down with you


another Version:
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The sun is fallen and it lies in blood.
The moon is weaving bandages of gold.
O Black Swan where, oh where is my lover gone?
Torn and tattered is my bridal gown and my lamp is lost
and my lamp is lost.
With silver needles and with silver threads
The stars stitch a route for the dying sun
Old Black Swan where oh where is my lover now
I had given him a kiss and a golden ring
And a golden ring
I had given him a kiss of fire and a golden ring
Oh with silver needles and with silver threads
The stars stitch a route for the dying sun
O Black Swan, where, oh where has my lover gone?
I had given him a kiss of fire,
and a golden ring, and a golden ring.
Don't you hear your lover moan?
Eyes of glass and feet of stone,
Shells for teeth and weeds for tongue,
Deep, deep, down in the river's bed
he's looking for the ring.
Eyes wide open, never asleep
he's looking for the ring, looking for the ring.
The spools unravel and the needles break.
The sun is buried and the stars weep.
O black wave, O black wave take me away with you
I will share with you my golden hair,
and my bridal crown, and my bridal crown.
Oh, take me down with you.
Take me down to my wand'ring lover
with my child unborn, with my child unborn.