Felicia Dorothea Hemans: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Oh, call my Brother back again

Felicia Dorothea Hemans

“Oh, call my Brother back again” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Felicia Dorothea Hemans: Collected Lyrics Text 1 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

Oh, call my brother back again,

I cannot play alone;

The summer comes with flow'r and bee;

Where is my brother gone?

Oh! call my brother back to me,

I cannot play alone.

Verse 2

The butterfly is glancing bright

Across the sunbeam's track;

I care not now to chase its flight—

Oh! call my brother back.

Oh! call, &c.

Verse 3

The flowers run wild—the flowers we sow'd

Around our garden-tree;

Our vine is drooping with its load—

Oh! call him back to me.

Oh! call, &c.

Verse 4

He would not hear my voice, fair child!

He may not come to thee;

The face that once like spring-time smiled

On earth no more thou'lt see!

Thy brother is in heaven, my boy,

And thou must play alone.

Verse 5

A rose's brief bright life of joy,

Such unto him was given;

You call for him in vain, my boy—

Thy brother is in heaven!

Thy brother is, &c.

Verse 6

And has he left the birds and flowers,

And must I call in vain;

And through the long, long summer hours,

Will he not come again?

Oh I call, &c.

Verse 7

And by the brook, and in the glade,

Are all our wanderings o'er?

Oh! while my brother with me play'd,

Would I had loved him more!

Oh! call, &c.

Credits

Written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans

Words by Felicia Dorothea Hemans. 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), “Oh, call my Brother back again”

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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