A Credo (after the German)

For the sole edification
Of this decent congregation,
Goodly people, by your grant
I will sing a holy chant —
I will sing a holy chant.
If the ditty sound but oddly,
‘Twas a father, wise and godly,
Sang it so long ago —
Then sing as Martin Luther sang,
As Doctor Martin Luther sang:
“Who loves not wine, woman and song,
He is a fool his whole life long!”

He, by custom patriarchal,
Loved to see the beaker sparkle;
And he thought the wine improved,
Tasted by the lips he loved —
But the kindly lips he loved.
Friends, I wish this custom pious
Duly were observed by us,
To combine love, song, wine,
And sing as Martin Luther sang,
As Doctor Martin Luther sang:
“Who loves not wine, woman, and song,
He is a fool his whole life long!”