Richard Graves: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Invitation to the Birds

Richard Graves

“Invitation to the Birds” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Richard Graves: 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

Ye gentle warblers, hither fly,

And shun the noontide heat;

My shrubs a cooling shade supply,

My groves a safe retreat.

Here freely hop from spray to spray,

And weave the mossy nest;

Here rove and sing the live-long day,

At night here sweetly rest.

Verse 2

Amid this cool transparent rill,

That trickles down the glade,

Here bathe your plumes, here drink your fill,

And revel in the shade.

Hither the vocal thrush repairs,

Secure the linnet sings;

The goldfinch dreads no slimy snares,

To clog her painted wings.

Verse 3

Sweet nightingale! oh, quit thy haunt,

Yon distant woods among,

And round my friendly grotto chant

Thy sadly pleasing song.

Nor let the harmless redbreast fear,

Domestic bird, to come

And seek a safe asylum here,

With one that loves his home.

Verse 4

My trees for you, ye artless tribe,

Shall store of fruit preserve;

Oh, let me thus your friendship bribe,

Come feed without reserve.

For you these cherries I protect,

To you these plums belong;

Sweet is the fruit that you have peck'd,

But sweeter far your song.

Credits

Written by Richard Graves

Words by Richard Graves. 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), “Invitation to the Birds”

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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