“Nurse’s Song” is a poem by William Blake that’s part of his collection called, “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” There are two versions of the poem. The first is from “Songs of Innocence” (1789). In this version, the nurse appreciates the sweetness of children’s voices at play outside on a beautiful day. The 2nd version of the poem is from “Songs of Experience” (1789). In this version, the nurse is older and more cynical. It’s interesting how the 1st version of the poem is reflected in the second.

You can listen to the 2 versions of the poem in separate recordings and read along with the text…

MP3 Recording of Nurse’s Song (from Songs of Innocence)

Nurse’s Song (from Songs of Innocence)
By William Blake

When voices of children are heard on the green,
And laughing is heard on the hill,
My heart is at rest within my breast,
And everything else is still.
‘Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down,
And the dews of night arise;
Come, come, leave off play, and let us away,
Till the morning appears in the skies.’

‘No, no, let us play, for it is yet day,
And we cannot go to sleep;
Besides, in the sky the little birds fly,
And the hills are all covered with sheep.’
‘Well, well, go and play till the light fades away,
And then go home to bed.’
The little ones leaped, and shouted, and laughed,
And all the hills echoèd.

Here’s the version of the poem from “Songs of Experience”…

MP3 of Nurse’s Song (From Songs of Experience)

Nurse’s Song (from Songs of Experience)
By William Blake

When the voices of children are heard on the green
And whisp’rings are in the dale,
The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind,
My face turns green and pale.

Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down,
And the dews of night arise;
Your spring and your day are wasted in play,
And your winter and night in disguise.