{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/sie/sie37.htm","path":"neu/eng/sie/sie37.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/sie/sie37.htm","text":"Songs of Innocence and of Experience, by William Blake, [1789-1794]\nDear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold.\n But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm:\n Besides I can tell where I am use\u2019d well.\n Such usage in heaven will never do well.\nBut if at the Church they would give us some Ale,\n And a pleasant fire, our souls to regale:\n We\u2019d sing and we\u2019d pray all the live-long day:\n Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray.\nThen the Parson might preach & drink & sing,\n And we\u2019d be as happy as birds in the spring:\n And modest dame Lurch, who is always at Church,\n Would not have bandy children nor fasting nor birch.\nAnd God like a father rejoicing to see,\n His children as pleasant and happy as he:\n Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the Barrel\n But kiss him & give him both drink and apparel.","title":"Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Songs of Experience...","type":"page"}