Fathers of Western Thought continue their guest blog for the James Joyce Centre, with songs and lyrics based on A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. This song ‘Beneath the Leafless Tree’ is based on Stephen’s love interest that begins in the second chapter of the novel.
‘Beneath the Leafless Tree’
Lyrics
I am thinking of you.
Have you been thinking of me as I have thought of you.
I want to catch hold of you, do you want me to?
I know I’d like to be with you, Emma
I want to touch your hair,
You know I’ve always thought of you, Emma
Don’t act like I’m not there,
I know I’ll never be with you, Emma
Is love like a disease?
So I’ll just dream I’m kissing you, Emma
Beneath the leafless trees.
Beneath the leafless trees.