When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy, when?
The people, Lord, the people,
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
Flowers of thy heart, O God, are they;
let them not pass like weeds away
Their heritage a sunless day
God save the people
Shall crime bring crime forever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it thy will, O Father,
that men shall toil for wrong?
No, say thy mountains; No, say thy skies;
man's clouded sun shall brightly rise,
and songs be heard, instead of sighs,
God save the people!
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy, when?
The people, Lord, the people!
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people; thine they are,
thy children as thy angels fair;
from vice, oppression and despair,
God save the people!
Words: Ebenezer Elliott, 1850
Not from Godspell maybe, but makes for a snappy tune!
ReplyDelete"from vice, oppression and despair"
ReplyDeleteHeh, that line got edited (in Godspell. Into "God save the people from despair". I imagine that "oppression" was too controversial---and "vice" too popular! ;-p)
This is not the original poem, which was published in 1847 (Elliott died in 1849, according to Bartlett's Quotations). Original poem is titled "The People's Anthem". Here is is:
ReplyDeleteTHE PEOPLE'S ANTHEM. (1847)
Written for music, at the request of WT. Wood, Esq.
WHEN wilt thou save the people?
Oh, God of mercy! when?
Not kings and lords, but nations!
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
Flowers of thy heart, oh, God, are they!
Let them not pass, like weeds, away!
Their heritage a sunless day!
God ! save the people!
Shall crime bring crime for ever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it thy will, oh, Father,
That man shall toil for wrong?
"No!" say thy mountains; "No!" thy skies
"Man's clouded sun shall brightly rise,
And songs be heard, instead of sighs."
God, save the people!
When wilt thou save the people?
Oh, God of Mercy! when?
The people, Lord, the people !
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God! save the people! thine they are,
Thy children, as thy angels fair:
Save them from bondage, and despair !
God, save the people !
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