Title: Katy Darling, Publisher: Oliver Ditson & Co., Location: Boston, Year: 1853
Cover Lithograph By: Winslow Homer (1836-1910)
Winslow Homer is regarded by many as the greatest American painter of the nineteenth century. Born in Boston and raised in rural Cambridge, he began his career as a commercial printmaker, first in Boston and then in New York, where he settled in 1859. For Homer, the late 1860s and the 1870s were a time of artistic experimentation and prolific and varied output. He resided in New York City, making his living chiefly by designing magazine illustrations and building his reputation as a painter.
Oh! they tell me thou art dead. Katy, darling,
That thy smile I may never more behold!
Did they tell thee I was false, Katy, darling,
Or my love for thee had e’er grown cold?
Oh, they know not the loving
Of the heart that beats for thee;
When a love like to thine, Katy, darling,
Is the goal to the race set for me.
Oh, hear me, sweet Katy.
Chorus.
For the wild flow’rs greet me, Katy, darling,
And the love-birds are singing on each tree;
Wilt thou never more hear me, Katy, darling;
Behold, love, I’m waiting for thee.
I’m kneeling by thy grave, Katy, darling!
This world is a bleak world to me;
Oh, could’st thou hear my wailing, Katy, darling,
Or think, love, I am sighing for thee;
Oh, methinks the stars are weeping,
By their soft and lambent light;
And thy heart would be melting, Katy, darling,
Could’st thou see thy lone Dermot this night.
Oh, listen, sweet Katy” -Chorus.
‘Tis useless all my weeping, Katy, darling!
But I’ll pray that, thy spirit be my guide;
And that when my life be spent, Katy, darling,
They will lay me down to rest by thy side.
Oh, a bitter grier I’m hearing,
Though I scarce heave a sigh;
And I’ll ever be dreaming, (tailing,
Of thy love every day till I die.
Farewell, then, sweet Katy.-Chorus.