Many years ago, I set to music a poem by Robert Frost, called Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening. I really loved this poem, the flow of lines, and in particular some of the words’ sound. And I maybe loved most its last lines:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I had just composed the music when we recorded it in Oslo, so I had not yet asked permission to the Robert Frost Trust. When I did so after returning from the recording session, I found out that their standard answer is no. This meant that we were not able to include it on the record.
Even though it was hard at the time, (easy wind and downy flake… the woods are lovely, dark and deep… miles to go before I sleep… which singer would not LOVE to sing those lines?) it never lessened my support for authors’ rights.
I have been a member of SUISA since 1996, and have received much valuable advice and assistance regarding copyrights in the context of composing for poems.
Well, here it is then, just to be admired…
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.