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A Psalm of Life Lyrics by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
        Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
        And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
        And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
        Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
        Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
        Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
        And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
        Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
        In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
        Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
        Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,—act in the living Present!
        Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
        We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
        Footprints on the sands of time;—
Footprints, that perhaps another,
        Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
        Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
        With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
        Learn to labor and to wait.
Credits
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

About “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read the complete lyrics to "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from the album "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow". 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 Psalm of Life" is performed by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. from the album "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" 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 Psalm of Life", explore more songs by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 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.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Psalm of Life" is credited to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Psalm of Life" appears on "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow".

Visit the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow artist page at /artist/henry-wadsworth-longfellow for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.