Laughing Song - William Blake
/Laughing Song - William Blake/
A Jubilant Celebration of Merriment
Original (Line 1): When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,
English (Line 1): When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,
Original (Line 2): And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;
English (Line 2): And the stream with dimples goes laughing by;
Original (Line 3): When the air does laugh with our merry wit,
English (Line 3): When the air echoes laughter from our merry wit,
Original (Line 4): And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;
English (Line 4): And the green hill chuckles with its cheerful noise;
Original (Line 5): When the meadows laugh with lively green,
English (Line 5): When the meadows glow, laughing in lively green,
Original (Line 6): And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene,
English (Line 6): And the grasshopper chirps amid this merry scene,
Original (Line 7): When Mary and Susan and Emily
English (Line 7): When Mary and Susan and Emily
Original (Line 8): With their sweet round mouths sing ‘Ha, ha he!’
English (Line 8): With sweet, round mouths sing out: “Ha, ha, he!”
Original (Line 9): When the painted birds laugh in the shade,
English (Line 9): When painted birds trill laughter in the shade,
Original (Line 10): Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread,
English (Line 10): Where our table with cherries and nuts is laid out,
Original (Line 11): Come live, and be merry, and join with me,
English (Line 11): Come, live joyfully, and join in with me,
Original (Line 12): To sing the sweet chorus of ‘Ha, ha he!’
English (Line 12): In singing the sweet chorus of “Ha, ha, he!”
From William Blake’s Laughing Song (1789), found in Songs of Innocence. This poem is in the public domain.
In “Laughing Song,” William Blake encapsulates the unbridled joy that permeates a sunlit, pastoral world where nature’s creatures and human voices alike burst forth in laughter. Written for his collection Songs of Innocence (1789), the poem unites images of green hills, dancing streams, and chirping grasshoppers with a group of friends—Mary, Susan, and Emily—who join in a chorus of “Ha, ha he!”
Blake’s language and imagery blend seamlessly to show nature not just as a backdrop, but as a participant in the merriment. Meadows “laugh” with their vivid greenery, and birds “laugh” in the shade, suggesting that all forms of life resonate with shared delight. This portrayal aligns closely with Blake’s larger vision of innocence, in which wonder and harmony are intrinsic to the human experience.
Yet beyond its buoyant tone, “Laughing Song” affirms the poet’s conviction that childlike exuberance and unity with nature form a powerful antidote to worldly cares. By framing laughter as a communal, infectious energy, Blake highlights how openness and play can draw both people and their surroundings into a shared celebration. Thus, the poem reminds us that even in a structured world, a simple invitation to “Come live, and be merry” has the capacity to dissolve isolation and kindle collective joy.
Key points
1. Nature and humanity join in a universal language of laughter.
2. Vivid, personified landscapes highlight the unity of life.
3. Communal mirth triumphs over any isolation or gloom.
4. The poem exemplifies Blake’s faith in the redemptive spirit of innocence.