A Pilgrims Way

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[Verse 1]
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I do not look for holy saints to guide me on my way,
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Or male and female devilkins to lead my feet astray.
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If these are added, I rejoice if not, I shall not mind,
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So long as I have leave and choice to meet my fellow-kind.

[Chorus 1]
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And as we come and as we go (and deadly-soon go we!)
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The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

[Verse 2]
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Thus I will honour pious men whose virtue shines so bright
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(Though none are more amazed than I when I by chance do right),
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And I will pity foolish men for woe their sins have bred
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(Though ninety-nine per cent of mine I brought on my own head).

[Chorus 2]
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And, Amorite or Eremite, or General Averagee,
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The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

[Verse 3]
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And when they bore me overmuch, I will not shake mine ears,
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Recalling many thousand such whom I have bored to tears.
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And when they labour to impress, I will not doubt nor scoff;
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Since I myself have done no less and—sometimes pulled it off.

[Chorus 3]
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Yes, as we are and we are not, and we pretend to be,
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The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

[Instrumental 2]
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[Verse 4]
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And when they work me random wrong, as often-times hath been,
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I will not cherish hate too long (my hands are none too clean).
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And when they do me random good I will not feign surprise.
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No more than those whom I have cheered with wayside courtesies.

[Chorus 4]
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But, as we give and as we take—whate'er our takings be—
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The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

[Verse 5]
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But when I meet with frantic folk who sinfully declare
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There is no pardon for their sin, the same I will not spare
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Till I have proved that Heaven and Hell which in our hearts we have
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Show nothing irredeemable on either side the grave.

[Chorus 5]
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For as we live and as we die—if utter Death there be—
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The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

[Instrumental 3]
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[Verse 6]
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Deliver me from every pride—the Middle, High, and Low—
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That bars me from a brother's side, whatever pride he show.
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And purge from me all heresies of thought and speech and pen
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That bid me judge him otherwise than I am judged. Amen!

[Verse 7]
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That I may sing of Crowd or King or road-borne company,
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That I may labour in my day, vocation and degree,
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To prove the same in deed and name, and hold unshakenly
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(Where'er I go, whate'er I know, whoe'er my neighbour be)

[Chorus 6]
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This single faith in Life and Death and to Eternity:
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“The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!”