Paul Laurence Dunbar: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

To Dan

Paul Laurence Dunbar

“To Dan” as printed in The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1913).

Paul Laurence Dunbar: Collected Lyrics Text 133 1913 · historical text
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Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

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TO DAN

Verse 2

Step me now a bridal measure,

Work give way to love and leisure,

Hearts be free and hearts be gay—

Doctor Dan doth wed to-day.

Diagnosis, cease your squalling—

Check that scalpel's senseless bawling,

Put that ugly knife away—

Doctor Dan doth wed to-day.

'Tis no time for things unsightly,

Life's the day and life goes lightly;

Science lays aside her sway—

Love rules Dr. Dan to-day.

Gather, gentlemen and ladies,

For the nuptial feast now made is,

Swing your garlands, chant your lay

For the pair who wed to-day.

Wish them happy days and many,

Troubles few and griefs not any,

Lift your brimming cups and say

God bless them who wed to-day.

Then a cup to Cupid daring,

Who for conquest ever faring,

With his arrows dares assail

E'en a doctor's coat of mail.

So with blithe and happy hymning

And with harmless goblets brimming,

Dance a step—musicians play—

Doctor Dan doth wed to-day.

Credits

Written by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Words by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Historical text published in The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1913); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1913), “To Dan”

Every text in this collected edition is by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906); his works entered the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions in 1977, and the 1913 edition is in the public domain in the United States. 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 2026-10-27. 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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