The poem was originally released in her book The Child On His Knees which was published by Macmillan in 1926 (ref).
It became widely known when it was regularly read by American television-priest and later bishop Fulton J. Sheen in the 1950s.
With meter 7.5.7.5, it was not originally released as a song so was not set to any tune. More recently it has been set to music and released by artists including Aaron Neville, Donna Cori Gibson, Fr. J. Roel Lungay - and many others.
The text is appears to be regarded as in the public domain in the USA - presumably because copyright was not registered and/or renewed within certain timeframes. However the author's date of death means that it is still copyright in many places (although possibly this is not enforced).
Downloads
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Contemporary singer, professional recording:
Singer self-accompanied on guitar at a live performance - his own tune:
Enthusiastic acapella performance by a young-adult group with spontaneous
percussion:
Solo singer and praise band, Fr. J. Roel Lungay's tune:
Lyrics
Lovely Lady dressed in blueTeach me how to pray!
God was just your little Boy,
Tell me what to say!
Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on you knee?
Did you sing to Him the way,
Mother does to me?
Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?
Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things-
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels’ wings
Make a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me–for you know?
Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little Boy,
And you know the way.
Is there any printed sheet music available for Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue
ReplyDeleteThere may be some here - https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/products/7349435--moylan-to-our-lady - I haven't tried it out myself.
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