This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Caravan Song
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Caravan Song by George Whitefield Chadwick — Lyrics
Under the tent of night the desert dreams,
Piercing the holy silence each star gleams,
And here at rest the wandering caravan
Is gathered, tired camel, weary man.
With silk from looms of Ind, from Mandalay
Jewels and gold, and spices from Cathay.
The caravan has marched since earliest light,
And now it rests beneath the tent of night.
“Lord of the desert, Allah,
Praise to thee be giv’n,
For thou once more has shelter’d
Us ’neath the tent of heaven!”
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About Caravan Song
George Whitefield Chadwick’s Caravan Song paints a vivid nocturnal scene of a desert encampment. The text describes the weary travellers and their precious cargo of silks, jewels, and spices resting under a starlit sky. A prayer to Allah follows, giving thanks for shelter. The piece then shifts to the morning as the tents are folded and the caravan resumes its journey, with the imagery of the blue and gold day echoing the luxurious goods. This secular SATB setting captures the exotic atmosphere and the enduring spirit of long-distance trade and travel.
