"The Chimney Sweeper" (from Songs of Innocence, 1789)
When my mother died I was very young, And my father sold me while yet my tongue, Could scarcely cry weep weep weep weep.[a] So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head That curled like a lambs back, was shaved, so I said. Hush Tom never mind it, for when your head's bare, You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.
And so he was quiet, & that very night, As Tom was a sleeping he had such a sight, That thousands of sweepers Dick, Joe, Ned & Jack Were all of them locked up in coffins of black,
And by came an Angel who had a bright key, And he opened the coffins & set them all free. Then down a green plain leaping laughing they run And wash in a river and shine in the Sun.
Then naked & white, all their bags left behind, They rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind. And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy, He'd have God for his father & never want joy.
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark And got with our bags & our brushes to work. Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm, So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.
"The Chimney Sweeper" (from Songs of Experience, 1794)
A little black thing among the snow: Crying weep, weep, in notes of woe! Where are thy father & mother? say? They are both gone up to the church to pray.
Because I was happy upon the heath, And smil'd among the winters snow: They clothed me in the clothes of death, And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
And because I am happy, & dance and sing, They think they have done me no injury: And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King Who make up a heaven of our misery.
[a] The child's lisping attempt at the word "Sweep".