1947

Why Fades a Dream

Composed by Irene Britton Smith

Dream Cycle Song Collection

"Why Fades a Dream" is the fourth and final song of Irene Britton Smith's Dream Cycle, which sets the text of Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Listen

“Why Fades a Dream?” (from “Dream Cycle”)
Tyrese Byrd, tenor; Sara Chiesa, piano3:00

Irene Britton Smith

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project.

Text

“Why Fades a Dream”
Text by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Why fades a dream?
An iridescent ray
Flecked in between the tryst
Of night and day.
Why fades a dream?—
Of consciousness the shade
Wrought out by lack of light and made
Upon life’s stream.
Why fades a dream?

That thought may thrive,
So fades the fleshless dream;
Lest men should learn to trust
The things that seem.
So fades a dream,
That living thought may grow
And like a waxing star–beam glow
Upon life’s stream—
So fades a dream.