Labour (Henry Lahee)

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• (Posted 2023-11-07)  CPDL #77034:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-11-07).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 363 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Labour
Composer: Henry Lahee
Lyricist: Caroline Frances Orne
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1872 Tonic Sol-Fa Agency
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Ho, ye who at the anvil toil,
And strike the sounding blow,
Where, from the burning iron’s breast,
The sparks fly to and fro,
While answering to the hammer’s ring,
And fire’s intenser glow!–
Oh, while ye feel ’tis hard to toil
And sweat the long day through,
Remember, it is harder still
To have no work to do!

Ho, ye who plow the sea’s blue field,
Who ride the restless wave,
Beneath whose gallant vessel’s keel
There lies a yawning grave,
Around whose bark the wint’ry winds
Like fiends of fury rave!–
Oh, while ye feel ’tis hard to toil
And labour long hours through,
Remember, it is harder still
To have no work to do!

Ho, all who labour,– all who strive!
Ye wield a lofty power;
Do with your might, do with your strength,
Fill every golden hour!
The glorious privilege to do
Is man’s most noble dower.
Oh, to your birthright and yourselves
To your own souls be true!
A weary, wretched life is theirs,
Who have no work to do!