I dream of Jeanne

I dream of Jeanne with the light brown hair,
Borne like a vapor on the sweet summer air;
I see her tripping where the bright streams play,
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour,
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er:
I dream of Jeanne with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

I long for Jeanne with the daydawn smile,
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile;
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by,
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die:
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,
Waiting for the lost one that comes not again:
I long for Jeanne, and my heart bows low,
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow.

I sigh for Jeanne, but her light form strayed,
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade;
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown,
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone.
Now the nodding wild flowers may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more:
Oh! I sigh for Jeanne with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

Stephen Foster 1854

Do you have a special song? I Dream of Jeanne (with apologies for changing the spelling) is mine. My parents both sang it to me as a child - especially if I was sad, but not only then. Ben sang it at my 21st Birthday and Russell at my wedding. Sometimes today I hum it to myself.

Interestingly it is not special to my beloved. We have two special songs together: Only a Woman's Heart by Mary Black and Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. Russell sang them at our wedding too.

Yes, I am a Genie in a bottle.

Does knowing that change the way you think of me?