William Blake: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Songs of Innocence/A Dream

William Blake

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

William Blake: Collected Lyrics Text 8 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

Once a dream did weave a shade,

O'er my Angel-guarded bed,

That an Emmet lost its way

Where on grass methought I lay.

Verse 2

Troubled wilderd and forlorn

Dark benighted travel-worn,

Over many a tangled spray,

All heart-broke I heard her say,

Verse 3

O my children! do they cry,

Do they hear their father sigh,

Now they look abroad to see,

Now return and weep for me.

Verse 4

Pitying I drop'd a tear;

But I saw a glow-worm near:

Who replied, What wailing wight,

Calls the watchman of the night.

Verse 5

I am set to light the ground,

While the beetle goes his round:

Follow now the beetles hum,

Little wanderer hie thee home.

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 Innocence/A Dream”

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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