There's a good time coming, boys,
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 a battle by its aid—
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming, boys,
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.

There's a good time coming, boys,
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.

There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming.
Hateful rivalries of creed
Shall not make their martyrs 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.

There's a good time coming, boys,
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.

There's a good time coming, boys,
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 mind grow stronger;
And every one shall read and write—
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming, boys,
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.

There's a good time coming, boys,
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.