Songs and Ballads for The People By the Rev. John M. Neale |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. | XII. Why are you a Dissenter?
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| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
 | Songs and Ballads for The People |  |
XII. Why are you a Dissenter?
1
Come, listen to me, neighbours!And I'll tell you of the way
Dissenters set about it
When they make a grand display:
And when my story's finish'd,
I'll be vastly well content,
If you will but be persuaded
To fly from all dissent.
2
A man is disappointedOf a pew he wants, or so;
“If this must be the way,” says he,
“To church I'll never go:
The Parson tried to spite me,
And so I'm fully bent
That I will spite the Parson
By setting up dissent.”
3
He looks about for converts;And so with much ado,
And perhaps a little money,
He picks up one or two:
They were always noted grumblers,
And to church they never went;
For that's the sort of people
That are readiest for dissent.
4
There are two or three who join them,And readily come in,
Because the Parson told them
They were living on in sin:
18
And so are well content—
For teachers dare not blame them,
Who live by their dissent.
5
They get a famous preacher,Who comes in haste from Town,
Lest what he calls the int'rest
Of Dissenters should go down:
They pay him for his sermon,
But the money's only lent;
For it brings them a collection
In aid of their dissent.
6
He praises all they're doing;But thinks it a disgrace
They've so poor a room for preaching,—
They should build a better place.
An Ebenezer Chapel
Would be just the thing he meant;
So very grand, and useful
In helping on dissent.
7
With driving and with scraping,And with screwing from the poor,
(They spare their own dear pockets),
They get a little store;
But before the meeting's finished,
The money's gone and spent;
And they find that it's expensive
To set on foot dissent.
8
But they raise a mighty clamour,And they try to blind men's eyes
With tales about the Parsons,
And half a score such lies:
19
But they say it's all well meant;
And without a little falsehood,
Who could hope to teach dissent?
9
And when it's done, what follows?Why morning, noon, and night,
There's quarrelling and brawling,
Who's wrong and who is right:
Sedition and rebellion
Find a very easy vent;
And farewell to peace and order
In the place that has dissent!
| Songs and Ballads for The People | |