Harmonies (Howe collection)/The Field-Day
THE FIELD-DAY
A yellow banner first was seen
Where every willow stood,
Long, long before a hint of green
Had touched the hillside wood.
Where every willow stood,
Long, long before a hint of green
Had touched the hillside wood.
Then, as if autumn had come back,
A glow of red returned
To all the maple branches black,
Whereon a dark fire burned.
A glow of red returned
To all the maple branches black,
Whereon a dark fire burned.
"Now strike your bleak and shivering tents!"
The signals gave the word.
"Form, companies and regiments!"
And all the army stirred.
The signals gave the word.
"Form, companies and regiments!"
And all the army stirred.
The marching orders of the year
Were thus proclaimed at last;
The field-day of the spring was near,
The winter bivouac past.
Were thus proclaimed at last;
The field-day of the spring was near,
The winter bivouac past.
In suits of green they decked them out,
Like Robin Hood's brave band;
The May winds rallied with a shout,
The warm sun lit the land.
Like Robin Hood's brave band;
The May winds rallied with a shout,
The warm sun lit the land.
The orchard trees must lead the van
With banners pink and white;
And so they gathered clan by clan,
And formed their lines aright.
With banners pink and white;
And so they gathered clan by clan,
And formed their lines aright.
Then was the great commander heard,
And the order came to march;
And music fell from every bird
Beneath the heavens' high arch.
And the order came to march;
And music fell from every bird
Beneath the heavens' high arch.
From street and lane and park and field,
From road and hill and shore,
The great green army wound and wheeled
Across the world once more.
From road and hill and shore,
The great green army wound and wheeled
Across the world once more.