Shiloh: A Requiem — Hugo Weisgall [Audio]

James SchminckeUncategorized

Song of America Project

from the Library of Congress | Link to Source


Melville’s poem “Shiloh: A Requiem” was written about the Civil War, but Weisgall’s song dates from the post-World War II era. “Shiloh: A Requiem” is a song from Weisgall’s song cycle Soldier Songs.


Shiloh: A Requiem
by Herman Melville

Skimming lightly, wheeling still,
The swallows fly low
Over the fields in clouded days,
The forest-field of Shiloh –
Over the field where April rain
Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain
Through the pause of night
That followed the Sunday fight
Around the church of Shiloh—
The church, so lone, the log-built one,
That echoed to many a parting groan
And natural prayer
Of dying foemen mingled there –
Foemen at morn, but friends at eve –
Fame or country least their care:
(What like a bullet can undeceive!)
But now they lie low,
While over them the swallows skim,
And all is hushed at Shiloh.

LISTEN NOW
Memories of Lincoln (1920)
Music by Hugo Weisgall
Text by Herman Melville