GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE

When wilt thou save the people,

O God of mercy, when?

Not kings alone, 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 forever,

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 ascend 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 thine angels fair;

From vice, oppression, and despair,

God save the people!

--Ebenezer Elliott.