Light and Life ‎#150

150. Touch not, nor taste

1 Say, who hath sorrow, contentious and woe?
They where the wine-cup is flowing, who go.
Look not upon it, a serpent its head,
Hides in the glow of the glittering red.

Refrain:
Touch not, nor taste, touch not, nor taste;
Oh, from the adder that stingeth you, haste!
Tarry nor stay, tarry nor stay,
There when a serpent but hides to betray.

2 Say, who is spirit are wounded, in pain?
They who go seeking the wine-cup again;
Tarrying long till the sparkle is past,
Lo, it shall sting like an adder at last. [Refrain]

3 Say, who is stricken until he must be
Like as one toss'd in the midst of the sea?
They who are beaten and sickened and sore,
They who have fallen the wine-cup before. [Refrain]

4 What shall we tell them, oh, what can we say?
How can we turn them from sinning away.
Lovingly give them the brotherly hand,
Tenderly helping the fallen to stand. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: Say, who hath sorrow, contentious and woe?
• Title: Touch not, nor taste
• Author: Mrs. M. B. C. Slade
• Refrain First Line: Touch not, nor taste, touch not, nor taste
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1881
• Notes: Public Domain.

Tune Information

• Name: [Say, who hath sorrow, contentious and woe?]
• Composer: R. M. McIntosh
• Key: A Major
• Notes: Public Domain.