Toilers, Arise! (Edward Carpenter)

“Toilers, Arise!” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Toilers, Arise!” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).

Lyrics: Edward Carpenter.
Tune: Edward Carpenter.


Toilers, arise! The long, long night is over.
Faint in the east, behold the dawn appear.
Out of your evil dream of toil and sorrow,
Arise, O toilers, for the day is here.
From your fields and hills,
Hark, the answer swells:
Arise, O toilers, for the day is here!

By your young children’s eyes so red with weeping,
By their white faces aged by want and fear,
From the dark cities where your babes are creeping,
Naked of joy and all that makes life dear,
From each wretched slum,
Let the loud cry come:
Arise, O toilers, for the day is here!

Over your face, a web of lies is woven;
Laws that are falsehoods pin you to the ground.
Labor is mocked; its just reward is stolen;
On its bent back sits Idleness encrowned.
How long while you sleep
Your harvest shall it reap?
Arise, O toilers, for the day is here!

Forth, then, ye heroes, patriots, and lovers,
Comrades of danger, poverty, and scorn!
Mighty in faith of Freedom, your great Mother!
Giants refreshed in Joy’s new-rising morn!
Come and swell the song
Silent now so long:
Labor is risen and the day is here!


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