Crossing The Bar
Written in 1889 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, this poem dives deep into the liminal space between this life and the next.
Where a river joins the sea, often a bar of sand is formed where the two waters meet, and sailors are well aware of the dangers posed by this turbulent zone – the currents and seas can be completely different on either side of the bar.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In commercial river mouths, often a local pilot will be ferried out to vessels crossing the bar, to guide them through the danger.
Tennyson’s poem, in a series of ethereal images of crossing the bar, takes us into the tunnel; we see the light at the end; we seem to understand; we withdraw, almost regretfully, but we are suffused, calm.
Singing notes:
A plaintive solo voice begins the verse. A few people may hum, or join in softly on the last line. The chorus is a repetitive rearrangement of the last two lines of the previous verse, so each chorus is different.
It’s all about timbre and harmony, and the last two lines of the last chorus are repeated. Silence falls.
Drinking notes:
A draught from the fountain of youth would do well here; failing that, an old Oloroso sherry would do the trick, complex and deep.
CROSSING THE BAR
Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea
When I put out to sea
When I put out to sea
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea
But such a tide as moving seems asleep
Too full for sound and foam
That which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home
Turns again home
Turns again home
That which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home
Twilight, and evening bell
And after that the dark
And may there be no sadness or farewell
When I embark
When I embark
When I embark
And may there be no sadness or farewell
When I embark
For tho' from out our borne of time and place
The flood may bare me far
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar
When I have crossed the bar
When I have crossed the bar
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar
