Victor Herbert — If Love Were What the Rose Is

If love were what the rose is And I were like the leaf Our lives would grow together In sad or singing weather Blown fields or flowerful closes Green pleasure or grey grief; If love were what the rose is And I were like the leaf If I were what the words are And love were like the tune With double sound or single Delight our lips would mingle With kisses glad as birds are That get sweet rain at noon; If I were what the words are And love were like the tune If you were life, my darling And I your love were death We 'd shine and snow together Ere March made sweet the weather With daffodil and starling And hours of fruitful breath; If you were life, my darling And I your love were death If you were thrall to sorrow And I were page to joy We 'd play for lives and seasons With loving looks and treasons And tears of night and morrow And laughs of maid and boy; If you were thrall to sorrow And I were page to joy If you were April's lady And I were lord in May We 'd throw with leaves for hours And draw for days with flowers Till day like night were shady And night were bright like day; If you were April's lady And I were lord in May