Anonymous: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Begone, Dull Care

Anonymous

“Begone, Dull Care” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Anonymous: Collected Lyrics Text 16 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Begone, dull care, I prithee begone from me;

Begone, dull care, you and I shall never agree.

Long time thou hast been tarrying here

And fain thou wouldst me kill,

But i' faith, dull care,

Thou never shalt have thy will.

Verse 2

For too much care is health and strength's decay;

And too much thought, it wears the mind away.

Then away with gloom and sorrow,

And merrily pass the day,

For I hold it one of the wisest things

To drive dull care away.

Credits

Written by Anonymous

Words by Anonymous. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “Begone, Dull Care”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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