Songs for the People

    Let me make the songs for the people，

    Songs for the old and young；

    Songs to stir like a battle-cry

    Wherever they are sung.

    Not for the clashing of sabres，

    For carnage nor for strife¹；

    But songs to thrill the hearts of men

    With more abundant life.

    Let me make the songs for the weary，

    Amid life's fever and fret²，

    Till hearts shall relax their tension，

    And careworn³ brows forget.

    Let me sing for little children，

    Before their footsteps stray，

    Sweet anthems⁴ of love and duty，

    To float o'er life's highway.

    I would sing for the poor and aged⁵，

    When shadows dim their sight；

    Of the bright and restful mansions⁶，

    Where there shall be no night.

    Our world， so worn and weary，

    Needs music， pure and strong，

    To hush⁷ the jangle and discords⁸

    Of sorrow， pain， and wrong.

    Music to soothe⁹ all its sorrow，

    Till war and crime shall cease；

    And the hearts of men grown tender

    Girdle the world with peace.