<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Singsong of England.</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O <span class="smallcaps">England</span> is an island,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The fairest ever seen;</p><p class="line">They say men come to England</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To learn that grass is green.</p><p class="line">And Englishmen are now at war,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">All for this they say,</p><p class="line">That they are free, and other men</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Must be as free as they.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The Englishmen are shepherds,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They plow, they sow and reap;</p><p class="line">Their King may wear his leopards,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">His men must run their sheep.</p><p class="line">But now the crook and reaping-hook,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The coulter and the sieve</p><p class="line">Are thrown aside; they take the gun</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That other men may live.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Some Englishmen are fishermen,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And other some are miners,</p><p class="line">And others man the shipping yards</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And build the ocean liners;</p><p class="line">But one and all will down tools</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And up with gun and sword</p><p class="line">To make a stand for Freedom</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Against the War Lord.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The pretty girls of England</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Are husbanding their charms,</p><p class="line">For not a girl of them but has</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A sweetheart under arms.</p><p class="line">But not a girl of all the flock</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Would call across the waves</p><p class="line">Her sweetheart to her kindness</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">While other men are slaves.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There's been an English kingdom</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For twice a thousand years;</p><p class="line">Her men have plough'd and reap'd it</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thro' merriment and tears.</p><p class="line">But never a twenty year has passed</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Without some stroke's been given</p><p class="line">For Freedom; and the land is free</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As any under heaven.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The Roman and the Spaniard,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Corsican, have tried</p><p class="line">Their worst, and now the German</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Must perish in his pride.</p><p class="line">He may burn and thieve and slaughter,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He may scold and storm and pray;</p><p class="line">But we shall fight till even his</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Stand up freemen some day.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When he is free of Germany</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And Germany of him</p><p class="line">There'll be a chance for plain men</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To get old Europe trim.</p><p class="line">Then on, you sturdy English hands,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And keep the colours flying,</p><p class="line">And we'll not grudge your blessed blood</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">If Tyranny's a-dying.</p></div><p class="byline">MAURICE HEWLETT.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/></p></body></html> · Great War