| 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 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 thy angels fair; From vice, oppression, and despair, God save the people! | |