by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889)
There's a good time coming
Language: English
There's a good time coming, boys, A good time coming, A good time coming; We may not live to see the day, But earth shall glisten in the ray. Of the good time coming. Cannon balls may aid the truth, But thought's a weapon stronger; Well win our battle by its aid; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming, boys, A good time coming, A good time coming; The pen shall supersede the sword, And right, not might shall be the lord, In the good time coming; Worth, not birth, shall rule mankind, And be acknowledg'd stronger; The proper impulse has been giv'n; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming boys, A good time coming, A good time coming; War in all men's eyes shall be A monster of iniquity. In the good time coming. Nations shall not quarrel then, To prove which is the stronger; Nor slaughter men for glory's sake; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming, boy's, A good time coming, A good time coming; Shameful rivalries of creed Shall not make the martyr bleed, In the good time coming. Religion shall be shorn of pride, And flourish all the stronger; And Charity shall trim her lamp; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming, boys, A good time coming. A good time coming; And a poor man's family, Shall not be his misery, In the good time coming; Ev'ry child shall be a help, To make his right arm stronger; The happier he, the more he has; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming boys, A good time coming, A good time coming; Little children shall not toil Under, or above the soil. In the good time coming. But shall play in healthful fields, Till limbs and minds grow stronger; And ev'ry one shall read and write; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming boys, A good time coming, A good time coming; The people shall be temperate, And shall love instead of hate, In the good time coming, They shall use, and not abuse, And make all virtue stronger; The reformation has begun; Wait a little longer. There's a good time coming boys, A good time coming, A good time coming; Let us aid it all we can, Ev'ry woman, ev'ry man, The good time coming. Smallest helps, if rightly giv'n, Make the impulse stronger; 'Twill be strong enough one day; Wait a little longer.
Authorship:
- by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864), "There's a good time coming", published 1846. [voice and piano] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-26
Line count: 80
Word count: 411