1 Who shall sing, if not the children?
Did not Jesus die for them?
May they not, with other jewels,
Sparkle in his diadem?
Why to them were voices given,
Bird-like voices, sweet and clear?
Why, unless the song of heaven
They begin to practice here?

2 There's a choir of infant songsters,
White-robed, round the Saviour's throne:
Angels cease, and, waiting, listen:
Oh! 'tis sweeter than their own!
Faith can hear the rapturous choral,
When her ear is upward turned;
Is not this the same, perfected,
Which upon the earth they learned?

3 Jesus, when on earth sojourning,
Loved them with a wondrous love;
And will he, to heaven returning,
Faithless to his blessing prove?
Oh, they cannot sing too early!
Fathers, stand not in their way!
Birds do sing while day is breaking--
Tell me, then why should not they?