The People's Anthem

WHEN wilt Thou save the people?

O God of mercy! when?

Not kings and lords, but nations!

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 for ever,

Strength aiding still the strong?

Is it Thy will, O 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 whilt 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;

Save them from bondage and despair!

       God save the people!

Ebenezer Elliott

Plaint

DARK, deep, and cold the current flows

Unto the sea where no wind blows,

Seeking the land which no one knows.

O'er its sad gloom still comes and goes

The mingled wail of friends and foes,

Borne to the land which no one knows.

Why shrieks for help yon wretch, who goes

With millions, from a world of woes,

Unto the land which no one knows?

Though myriads go with him who goes,

Alone he goes where no wind blows,

Unto the land which no one knows.

For all must go where no wind blows,

And none can go for him who goes;

None, none return whence no one knows.

Yet why should he who shrieking goes

With millions, from a world of woes,

Reunion seek with it or those?

Alone with God, where no wind blows,

And Death, his shadow -- doom'd, he goes.

That God is there the shadow shows.

O shoreless Deep, where no wind blows!

And thou, O Land which no one knows!

That God is All, His shadow shows.

Ebenezer Elliott