Excelsior
The shades of night were falling fast
As through an Alpine village passed
His brow was sad, his eye beneath
Flashed like a faulchion from its sheath
A youth, who bore 'mid snow and ice
A banner with the strange device
Try not the Pass
Oh stay, and rest
With a sigh
Excelsior
Beware the pine-tree's withered branch
The awful avalanche
Up the height
Excelsior
In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright
A traveller, by the faithful hound
Half-buried in the snow was found
Still grasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device
Try not the Pass
Oh stay, and rest
With a sigh
Excelsior
Beware the pine-tree's withered branch
The awful avalanche
Up the height
Excelsior
Excelsior
Higher, higher
Excelsior
Much higher, and higher
High, high!
In the twilight cold and gray
Beautiful he lay
And from the sky
Serene and far
Like a falling star
Excelsior
Above, the spectral glaciers shone
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue
Excelsior
Dark lowers the tempest overhead
The roaring torrent is deep and wide
And loud that clarion voice replied
Excelsior!