Freedom

We're fighting now for liberty Where'er our armies are, We wouldn't want our king to be A Kaiser, or a Czar. We want no rabbi with his book, No priest in sable stole, For priest and rabbi ne'er can brook The freedom of the soul.

We must be free, to work, or play, Or loaf, just when we like, And if we get too little pay, Be free to go on strike: And if, perchance, we gain our goal, And wealth to us should come, We must be free to take our toll, From workman's scanty crumb.

We must be free to hit the booze That steals our children's bread, The cash that ought to buy them shoes, Pour down our necks instead. We must be free to come and go; No Russ nor Hun are we, There's nothing grander here below Than British liberty.

But when, from nations drowned in tears, For crimes by Kaiser done, The cry goes forth for volunteers To come and fight the Hun; We must be free at home to stay, While others take their chance "Of finding little homes of clay" In Flanders or in France.