Let me make songs for the people Make songs for the old and young Songs to stir like a battle cry Where ever they are sung Not for the clashing of sabres For carnage nor for strife But songs to thrill the hearts of men With more abundant life With more abundant life ♪ Let me make songs for the children Before their footsteps stray Sweet songs of love and duty To float along their way Our world so worn and weary Needs music pure and strong To hush the jangle and discord Of sorrow pain and wrong Of sorrow pain and wrong Let me make songs for the weary Amid life's fever and fret 'Til hearts relax their tension And careworn brows forget Where music soothes all our sorrows 'Til war and hurt shall cease And hearts of men grow tender And girdle the world with peace ♪ Let me make songs for the people Make songs for the old and young Songs to stir like a battle cry Where ever they are sung Not for the clashing of sabres For carnage nor for strife But songs to thrill the hearts of men With more abundant life But songs to thrill the hearts of men With more abundant life