Sea Slumber Song / Roden Noel

"Sea Slumber Song" is a poem by Roden Noel set to music by Sir Edward Elgar as the first song in his song-cycle Sea Pictures.

Sea Slumber Song
Sea Slumber Song Sea-birds are asleep, The world forgets to weep, Sea murmurs her soft slumber-song On the shadowy sand Of this elfin land;

"I, the Mother mild, Hush thee, O my child, Forget the voices wild! Hush thee, O my child, Hush thee

Isles in elfin light Dream, the rocks and caves, Lull’d by whispering waves, Veil their marbles Veil their marbles bright, Foam glimmers faintly white Upon the shelly sand Of this elfin land;

Sea-sound, like violins, To slumber woos and wins, I murmur my soft slumber-song, My slumber-song, Leave woes, and wails, and sins,

Ocean’s shadowy might Breathes good-night, Good-night&hellip; Leave woes, and wails, and sins, Good-night&hellip; Good-night&hellip; Good-night&hellip; Good-night&hellip; Good-night&hellip; Good-night&hellip;"

The poem here is as sung in Sea Pictures.

Elgar's setting
The sea's lullaby ("I, the Mother mild") is evoked by bass drum and tam-tam and strings repeating a phrase that reappears later in the song cycle. At "Isles in elfin light" the music changes key to C major before returning to the oceanic theme.