There’s a Good Time Coming

Stephen Foster’s second published song, 1846.
words by Charles Mackay
music by Stephen C. Foster

The sheet music:

Theres-a-Good-Time-Coming – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment:

Theres-a-Good-Time-Coming – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    We may not live to see the day
    But earth shall glisten in the ray
    Of the good time coming
    Cannon balls may aid the truth
    But thought’s a weapon stronger
    We’ll win our battle by its aid
    Wait a little longer
  2. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    The pen shall supersede the sword
    And right, not might, shall be the lord
    In the good time coming
    Worth, not birth, shall rule mankind
    And be acknowledged stronger
    The proper impulse has been given
    Wait a little longer
  3. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    War in all men’s eyes shall be
    A monster of iniquity
    In the good time coming
    Nations shall not quarrel then
    To prove which is the stronger
    Nor slaughter men for glory’s sake
    Wait a little longer
  4. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    Shameful rivalries of creed
    Shall not make the martyr bleed
    In the good time coming
    Religion shall be shorn of pride
    And flourish all the stronger
    And Charity shall trim her lamp
    Wait a little longer
  5. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    And a poor man’s family
    Shall not be his misery
    In the good time coming
    Every child shall be a help
    To make his right arm stronger
    The happier he, the more he has
    Wait a little longer
  6. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    Little children shall not toil
    Under, or above the soil
    In the good time coming
    But shall play in healthful fields
    Till limbs and minds grow stronger
    And everyone shall read and write
    Wait a little longer
  7. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    The people shall be temperate
    And shall love instead of hate
    In the good time coming
    They shall use, and not abuse
    And make all virtue stronger
    The reformation has begun
    Wait a little longer
  8. There’s a good time coming, boys
    A good time coming, a good time coming
    Let us aid it all we can
    Every woman every man
    The good time coming
    Smallest helps, if rightly given
    Make the impulse stronger
    ’Twill be strong enough one day
    Wait a little longer

Sung here by Fred Feild: