Lyrks
Lyrks
Lyrks
Cover Art

A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body Lyrics by Andrew Marvell

Miscellaneous Poems

0

Soul
O who shall, from this dungeon, raise
A soul enslav’d so many ways?
With bolts of bones, that fetter’d stands
In feet, and manacled in hands;
Here blinded with an eye, and there
Deaf with the drumming of an ear;
A soul hung up, as ’twere, in chains
Of nerves, and arteries, and veins;
Tortur’d, besides each other part,
In a vain head, and double heart.
Body
O who shall me deliver whole
From bonds of this tyrannic soul?
Which, stretch’d upright, impales me so
That mine own precipice I go;
And warms and moves this needless frame,
(A fever could but do the same)
And, wanting where its spite to try,
Has made me live to let me die.
A body that could never rest,
Since this ill spirit it possest.
Soul
What magic could me thus confine
Within another’s grief to pine?
Where whatsoever it complain,
I feel, that cannot feel, the pain;
And all my care itself employs;
That to preserve which me destroys;
Constrain’d not only to endure
Diseases, but, what’s worse, the cure;
And ready oft the port to gain,
Am shipwreck’d into health again.
Body
But physic yet could never reach
The maladies thou me dost teach;
Whom first the cramp of hope does tear,
And then the palsy shakes of fear;
The pestilence of love does heat,
Or hatred’s hidden ulcer eat;
Joy’s cheerful madness does perplex,
Or sorrow’s other madness vex;
Which knowledge forces me to know,
And memory will not forego.
What but a soul could have the wit
To build me up for sin so fit?
So architects do square and hew
Green trees that in the forest grew.
Credits
Andrew Marvell

Andrew Marvell

About “A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body” by Andrew Marvell

Read the complete lyrics to "A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body" by Andrew Marvell from the album "Miscellaneous Poems". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body" is performed by Andrew Marvell. from the album "Miscellaneous Poems" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body", explore more songs by Andrew Marvell using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Andrew Marvell · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body" is credited to Andrew Marvell. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body" appears on "Miscellaneous Poems".

Visit the Andrew Marvell artist page at /artist/andrew-marvell for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.