The Song of the Savoyards

Far poured past Broadway’s lamps alight, The tumult of her motley throng, When high and clear upon the night Rose an inspiring song, And rang above the city’s din To sound of harp and violin; A simple but a manly strain, And ending with the brave refrain— Courage! courage, mon camarade! And now where rose that song of cheer, Both old and young stood still for joy; Or from the windows hung to hear The children of Savoy: And many an eye with rapture glowed, And saddest hearts forgot their load, And feeble souls grew strong again, So stirring was the brave refrain— Courage! courage, mon camarade! Alone, with only silence there, Awaiting his life’s welcome close, A sick man lay, when on the air That clarion arose; So sweet the thrilling cadence rang, It seemed to him an angel sang, And sang to him; and he would fain Have died upon that heavenly strain— Courage! courage, mon camarade! A sorrow-stricken man and wife, With nothing left them but to pray, Heard streaming over their sad life That grand, heroic lay: And through the mist of happy tears They saw the promise-laden years; And in their joy they sang again, And carolled high the fond refrain— Courage! courage, mon camarade! Two artists, in the cloud of gloom Which hung upon their hopes deferred, Resounding through their garret-room That noble chanson heard; And as the night before the day Their weak misgivings fled away; And with the burden of the strain They made their studio ring again— Courage! courage, mon camarade! Two poets, who in patience wrought The glory of an aftertime,— Lords of an age which knew them not, Heard rise that lofty rhyme; And on their hearts it fell, as falls The sunshine upon prison-walls; And one caught up the magic strain And to the other sang again— Courage! courage, mon camarade! And unto one, who, tired of breath, And day and night and name and fame, Held to his lips a glass of death, That song a savior came; Beseeching him from his despair, As with the passion of a prayer; And kindling in his heart and brain The valor of its blest refrain— Courage! courage, mon camarade! O thou, with earthly ills beset, Call to thy lips those words of joy, And never in thy life forget The brave song of Savoy! For those dear words may have the power To cheer thee in thy darkest hour; The memory of that loved refrain Bring gladness to thy heart again!— Courage! courage, mon camarade!