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Poem
October 2, 1793
National Gazette
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A satirical song lamenting the inevitable sorrows and trials of human life, illustrated through the experiences of a shepherd, merchant, lawyer, priest, and youth, with the recurring refrain 'That man was born to cry,' set to the tune 'The Indian Philosopher.'
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Inton'd a solemn strain.
"That man was born to cry."—Tune,
The Indian Philosopher.
WHEN May's sweet bloom, in vernal hue,
Enraptur'd all creation through
And spread its sweets on high,
I walk'd the rural mead along
And heard a shepherd chaunt his song
That man was born to cry.
Thus sung, he cry'd, "Sweet Philomel,
(And thus his notes were heard to swell
And mount the azure sky)
The various ills which curse the ground
Convinc'd me of this doleful sound,
That man was born to cry."
The Merchant sends his Ships afar
And runs the risque of horrid war,
In foreign realms to pry;
Till winds and storms destroy his gain
Then this great truth he owns, in pain,
That man was born to cry.
The Lawyer for his client states.
Invokes, demurrs, pleads, lies, debates
To all eternity—
Till Sick, and torn by gouty pains
He proves, by poor and weak remains,
That man was born to cry.
The Priest, with fancied powers of mind
To heal the sick and cure the blind,
To heaven directs his eye:
But as our sins encrease with age
He's more convinc'd thro' every stage,
That man was born to cry.
The Youth by fickle love once stung
Attempts (his soul with horror wrung)
Another maid to try—
He roves, till fasten'd to a wife,
He stands convicted, thro' his life
That man was born to cry!
"That man was born to cry."—Tune,
The Indian Philosopher.
WHEN May's sweet bloom, in vernal hue,
Enraptur'd all creation through
And spread its sweets on high,
I walk'd the rural mead along
And heard a shepherd chaunt his song
That man was born to cry.
Thus sung, he cry'd, "Sweet Philomel,
(And thus his notes were heard to swell
And mount the azure sky)
The various ills which curse the ground
Convinc'd me of this doleful sound,
That man was born to cry."
The Merchant sends his Ships afar
And runs the risque of horrid war,
In foreign realms to pry;
Till winds and storms destroy his gain
Then this great truth he owns, in pain,
That man was born to cry.
The Lawyer for his client states.
Invokes, demurrs, pleads, lies, debates
To all eternity—
Till Sick, and torn by gouty pains
He proves, by poor and weak remains,
That man was born to cry.
The Priest, with fancied powers of mind
To heal the sick and cure the blind,
To heaven directs his eye:
But as our sins encrease with age
He's more convinc'd thro' every stage,
That man was born to cry.
The Youth by fickle love once stung
Attempts (his soul with horror wrung)
Another maid to try—
He roves, till fasten'd to a wife,
He stands convicted, thro' his life
That man was born to cry!
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Song
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Human Suffering
Satirical Professions
Merchant Risks
Lawyer Debates
Priest Illusions
Youth Love
Refrain Cry
Poem Details
Title
"That Man Was Born To Cry."
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Refrain
Key Lines
That Man Was Born To Cry.
The Various Ills Which Curse The Ground
Convinc'd Me Of This Doleful Sound,
That Man Was Born To Cry.
Then This Great Truth He Owns, In Pain,
That Man Was Born To Cry.
He Stands Convicted, Thro' His Life
That Man Was Born To Cry!