Overview
Introduction
"Beautiful Dreamer" is a parlor song by American songwriter Stephen Foster (1826–1864). It was published posthumously in March 1864, by Wm. A. Pond & Co. of New York. The first edition states on its title page that it is "the last song ever written by Stephen C. Foster. Composed but a few days prior to his death." However, Carol Kimball, the author of Song, points out that the first edition's copyright is dated 1862, which suggests, she writes, that the song was composed and readied for publication two years before Foster's death. There are at least 20 songs, she observes, that claim to be Foster's last, and it is unknown which is indeed his last. The song is set in 9
8 time with a broken chord accompaniment.
The song tells of a lover serenading a "Beautiful Dreamer" who is oblivious to worldly cares and may actually be dead. Foster's works feature many dead young women, including his sister Charlotte and "Jeanie". Helen Lightner writes, "This sentimental ballad is folk-like in character with its repetitious but lovely melody and its basic harmonic accompaniment ... The quiet and calm of this mood is portrayed by the monotony of the arpeggiated accompaniment, by the repetitiveness of the melodic pattern, and by the strophic form itself."
Lyrics
美丽的梦神来到身旁
星光和露珠在悄悄张望
白天的喧哗已经消失
银白的月亮散发光芒
美丽的梦神请听我讲
温柔的歌声在为你歌唱
世事已完毕不再繁忙
美丽的梦神你来到身旁
美丽的梦神你来到身旁
美丽的梦神请听我讲
温柔的歌声在为你歌唱
世事已完毕不再繁忙
美丽的梦神你来到身旁
美丽的梦神你来到身旁
美丽的梦神来到海上
美人鱼轻声地诉说哀伤
在小河那边烟雾飘荡
静静地等待着黎明曙光
美丽的梦神像万道霞光
照耀着小河也照耀海洋
驱散了云雾赶走哀伤
美丽的梦神你来到身旁
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull’d by the moonlight have all pass’d a way!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the eares of life’s busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam of my heart,
E’en as the morn on the streamlet and sea:
Then will the clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
