Farewell, the smoky town - Arne, Thomas

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"Probably written for performance at Vauxhall."

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre → Arias ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Basso continuo, violin

Pages 4

CPDL # 87090

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2025-10-09

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

Farewell, the smoky town, adieu! Farewell, each rude and sensual joy: Gay, fleeting pleasures all untrue, That in possession cloy. Far from the garnish'd scene I'll fly, Where folly keeps her court; To wholesome sound philosophy, And harmless rural sport. How happy is the humble cell, How blest the deep retreat; Where sorrow's billows never swell, Nor passion's tempests beat. But safely through the sea of life, Calm reason wafts us o'er; Free from ambition, noise and strife, To death's eternal shore.