In a rich and fruitful land，

    Babes reduc'd to misery¹，

    Fed with cold and usurous hand？

    Is that trembling cry a song？

    Can it be a song of joy？

    And so many children poor？

    It is a land of poverty！

    And their sun does never shine，

    And their fields are bleak² and bare，

    And their ways are fill'd with thorns：

    It is eternal winter there.

    For where'er the sun does shine，

    And where'er the rain does fall，

    Babe can never hunger there，

    Nor poverty the mind appal³.