George Cooper (poet)

Sweet Genevieve,
The days may bring me joy or woe,
But still the hands of Memory weave
The blissful dreams of long ago.

George Cooper (May 14, 1840 – September 26, 1927) was an American poet remembered chiefly for his song lyrics, many set to music by Stephen Foster, such as "There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea" and "For the Dear Old Flag I Die!"

Quotes

• For the dear old Flag I die,
  Mother, dry your weeping eye;
  For the honor of our land
  And the dear old Flag I die.
  • "For the Dear Old Flag, I Die", chorus (c. 1863). Music by Stephen Foster. Lyrics attributed to Cooper in Irwin Silber (ed.) Songs of the Civil War (New York: Dover Publications, 1995) pp. 12, 27–29. Compare: "The Dying Boy", in The Sacred Harp (1859)—as cited in The Musical Quarterly, vol. 22, no. 2 (April 1936) pp. 165–166

• To do Thy holy will;
     To bear Thy cross;
  To trust Thy mercy still,
     In pain or loss;
  Poor gifts are these to bring,
     Dear Lord, to Thee,
  Who hast done everything
       For me!
  • "Only Our Love", st. 1. Anthologized in The Changed Cross, and the Shadow of the Rock (New York: Anson D. F. Randolph & Co, 1866) pp. 47–49. "Everything" changed to "every thing" in Josiah H. Gilbert (ed.) Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (Troy, NY: H. B. Nims & Co, 1883) p. 169

• After the shower, the tranquil sun;
    After the snow, the emerald leaves;
  Silver stars when the day is done;
    After the harvest, golden grain.
  • "After", st. 1. Unattributed in Sterling's Southern Orator (New York: Owens and Agar; Greensboro, NC: R. Sterling & Son, 1867) p. 161. Attributed to Cooper in the New York National Anti-Slavery Standard, vol. 27, no. 41 (February 16, 1867) p. 4, col. 3

• Brave the storm with firm endevor,
    Let your vain repinings go!
  Hopeful hearts will find forever—
    Roses underneath the snow.
  • "Roses Underneath the Snow", chorus. Music by H[art] P[ease] Danks. Lyrics by Cooper. Attributed in Henry De Marsan's New Comic and Sentimental Singers' Journal, vol. 2, no. 117 (c. 1868) p. 133, col. 2. Anthologized in Warren Snyder (ed.) Poetical Favorites, Yours and Mine (New York: Wessels & Bissell Co, 1910) pp. 71–72

• "Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,—
  "Come o'er the meadows with me, and play;
  Put on your dresses of red and gold:
  Summer is gone, and the days grow cold."
  • "The Leaves and the Wind", st. 1. Attributed to Cooper in The Nursery, vol. 20 (Boston, MA: John L. Shorey, 1876) pp. 147–148

• October gave a party;
    The leaves by hundreds came—
  The Ashes, Oaks and Maples,
    And leaves of every name.
  The Sunshine spread a carpet,
    And everything was grand,
  Miss Weather led the dancing;
    Professor Wind, the band
  • "October's Party", st. 1. Unattributed in The Palmer Journal, vol. 30, no. 34 (November 15, 1879) p. 1, col. 5. Attributed to Cooper in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 11th ed. (1941) p. 637

• O, Genevieve, sweet Genevieve,
    The days may bring me joy or woe,
  But still the hands of Memory weave
    The blissful dreams of long ago,
      Sweet Genevieve!
  • "Sweet Genevieve", l. 9. Charles Wells Moulton (ed.) The Magazine of Poetry, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY, 1891) pp. 11–12

External links

• Encyclopedic article on George Cooper (poet) on Wikipedia