"Why Sing the Birds So Merrily" (1868)
Words by Sanford Fillmore Bennett, 1836-1898
Music by Joseph Philbrick Webster, 1819-1875

Chicago, IL: Lyon & Healy, 116 Washington St.
Boston, MA: O. Ditson & Co.
Philadelphia, PA: C. W. A. Trumpler
New York, NY: C. H. Ditson & Co.
Chicago, IL: Western News Co.
[Source: pp. 20-21 from "The Signet Ring"]

[Boys]
1. Why sing the birds so merrily
When spring-tide comes?
Why through the scale so cheerily
Their their music runs?
[Girls]
The birds are thankful, and they sing
Because their hearts are glad,
In praise of Him who brings the spring,
All leaf and flower clad.

[Boys]
2. The children, too, sing merrily,
And why they sing,
Than even birds more cheerily,
At opening day?
[Girls]
Each child is thankful, and they sing
Because their hearts are glad,
In praise to Him who brings the spring,
All leaf and flower clad.

[Boys]
3. Why sing we all so merrily,
This gladsome time,
Our voices making harmony
Almost divine?
[Gilrs]
We all are thankful, and we sing
Because our hearts are glad,
In praise of Him who brings the spring,
All leaf and flower clad.