William Lisle Bowles: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Cuckoo (I.)

William Lisle Bowles

“The Cuckoo (I.)” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

William Lisle Bowles: 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

The bee is humming in the sun,

The yellow cowslip springs;

And, hark! from yonder woodland's side

Again the Cuckoo sings;

No other note but Cuckoo still

She sings from day to day;

Yet I, though but a little child,

Can read, and sing, and pray.

Credits

Written by William Lisle Bowles

Words by William Lisle Bowles. 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), “The Cuckoo (I.)”

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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