SONGS OF INNOCENCE
AND OF EXPERIENCE
(Engraved 1789-1794)
SONGS OF INNOCENCE
Introduction
Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me:
'Pipe a song about a Lamb!' 5
So I piped with merry cheer.
'Piper, pipe that song again;'
So I piped: he wept to hear.
'Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe;
Sing thy songs of happy cheer:' 10
So I sang the same again,
While he wept with joy to hear.
'Piper, sit thee down and write .
In a book, that all may read.'
So he vanish'd from my sight, 15
And I pluck'd a hollow reed,
And I made a rural pen,
And I stain'd the water clear,
And I wrote my happy songs
Every child may joy to hear. 20
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