Lyrics
[Verse]
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing moreeee!!!.”
[Chorus]
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless! Here! For! Evermore!!!
[Verse 2]
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more.”
[Chorus]
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir!!!” said I, “or Madam!!! truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping! and so gently you came rapping!!!
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber doooor!!!
That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the doooor!;—
Darkness there and nothing moreeeee!!!
[Verse 3]
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenoreeee?!”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenoreeee!!!”—
Merely this and nothing moreeeee!!!
[Chorus]
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than beforeeee!!!
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
’Tis the wind and nothing moreeeeee!!!”
[Verse 3]
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenoreeee!!!”—
Merely this and nothing moreeeee!!!
[Chorus]
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than beforeeee!!!
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
’Tis the wind and nothing moreeeeee!!!”
