William Morris

• Words & Music: John Young (after William Morris), 1985
• Notes: William Morris was a British textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist.

Cho­rus:
This is the view I hold today, and hope to die still holding
That long-dreamt dreams of com­mon­wealth thro’ his­to­ry are unfolding
Where there are nei­ther rich nor poor, nor over­worked nor idle.
No mas­ter nor no mas­tered one, nor any bit nor bridle.

1. First I claim good health for all, and next good education
   And then the right to leisure time, the joys of recreation
   And then I claim the right to work, in work feel no resentment
   And the right to share my labour’s fruits, and live in qui­et contentment.
2. Our rot­ten sham soci­ety heaps wealth we fools are making,
   Upon the rich, who rich­er grow and only live by taking.
   By harm­ing one we all are harmed, by exploita­tion sundered.
   On profit’s wheel we are ground down, by com­pe­ti­tion rendered.

Files

• William Mor­ris (all parts) [mp3, 3.5Mb]
• William Mor­ris (high) [mp3, 3.5Mb]
• William Mor­ris (mid­dle) [mp3, 3.5Mb]
• William Mor­ris (low) [mp3, 3.5Mb]

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