Introduction, The Shepherd

Text by William Blake 1. 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" 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" So I sung 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 vanished from my sight And I plucked a hollow reed And I made a rural pen And I stained the water clear And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear 2. INNOCENCE: THE SHEPHERD How sweet is the Shepherd's sweet lot From the morn to the evening he strays He shall follow his sheep all the day And his tongue shall be filled with praise For he hears the lambs' innocent call And he hears the ewes' tender reply He is watchful while they are in peace For they know when their Shepherd is nigh