“Beware!”
Their long black manes and tails streamed on the wind, their feet pounded, the buggy sailed. Everything went rushing by too fast to be seen. Lena began to sing…… — By the Shores of Silver Lake, Chapter 6, “The Black Ponies”
The lyrics to “Beware!” are a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), published 1839 in Voices from the Night. It was based on a German poem, “Hut du Dich!”
Although Lena changes the lyrics and sings about a young man, the poem and song warn against trusting a fair maiden who is beguiling and false. The music was originally published in 1864 by William A. Pond & Co., New York. Lena’s version was well known in the 1890s, and a popular recording by Blind Alfred Reed was released in the 1930s. This song was not mentioned in the surviving manuscripts for By the Shores of Silver Lake.
I know a maiden fair to see,
Take care! Take care!
She can both false and friendly be,
Beware! Beware!
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
She has two eyes so soft and brown,
Take care! Take care!
She gives a side glance and looks down,
Beware! Beware!
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
And she has hair of golden hue,
Take care! Take care!
And what she says, it is not true,
Beware! Beware!
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
She has a bosom as white as snow,
Take care! Take care!
She knows how much it is best to show,
Beware! Beware!
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
She gives thee a garland woven fair,
Take care! Take care!
It is a fool’s-cap for thee to wear,
Beware! Beware!
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
Trust her not, she’s fooling thee, she’s fooling thee…
(from By the Shores of Silver Lake)
I know a young man fair to see,
Take care! Oh, take care!
And he can very obliging be,
Beware! Oh, beware!
Take care dear girl he’s a-fooling you!
Take care! Oh, take care!
Trust him not for he won’t prove true,
Beware! Oh, beware!
CLICK HERE to listen.
Click on the above images to view a copy of original sheet music for “Beware!”
This music is archived in the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA.. The Historic American Sheet Music Program provides access to music published in the United States between 1850 and 1920.
“Beware!” (LTP 8)
“I know a young man fair to see…”
“Take care, dear girl, he’s a-fooling you!”