William Blake: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Songs of Experience/Introduction

William Blake

“Songs of Experience/Introduction” as printed in Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826) (1826).

William Blake: Collected Lyrics Text 3 1826 · historical text
Public domainSong lyricsRomantic
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Hear the voice of the Bard!

Who Present, Past, & Future sees

Whose ears have heard,

The Holy Word,

That walk'd among the ancient trees.

Verse 2

Calling the lapsed Soul

And weeping in the evening dew:

That might controll

The starry pole;

And fallen fallen light renew!

Verse 3

O Earth O Earth return!

Arise from out the dewy grass;

Night is worn,

And the morn

Rises from the slumberous mass.

Verse 4

Turn away no more:

Why wilt thou turn away

The starry floor

The watry shore

Is giv'n thee till the break of day.

Credits

Written by William Blake

Words by William Blake. Historical text published in Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826) (1826); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826) (1826), “Songs of Experience/Introduction”

Every text in this 1826 collection is by William Blake (1757-1827), who died more than 190 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 2026-10-25. 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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More from William Blake: Collected Lyrics.

01Songs of Experience/Earth's AnswerPublic-domain lyrics02Songs of Experience/Holy ThursdayPublic-domain lyrics04Songs of Experience/My Pretty Rose TreePublic-domain lyrics05Songs of Experience/The Clod and the PebblePublic-domain lyrics