My neighbor lives on the hill, br And I in the valley dwell, br My neighbor must look down on me, br Must I look up?--ah, well, br My neighbor lives on the hill, br And I in the valley dwell. br br My neighbor reads, and prays, br And I--I laugh, God wot, br And sing like a bird when the grass is green br In my small garden plot; br But ah, he reads and prays, br And I--I laugh, God wot. br br His face is a book of woe, br And mine is a song of glee; br A slave he is to the great 'They say,' br But I--I am bold and free; br No wonder he smacks of woe, br And I have the tang of glee. br br My neighbor thinks me a fool, br 'The same to yourself,' say I; br 'Why take your books and take your prayers, br Give me the open sky;' br My neighbor thinks me a fool, br 'The same to yourself,' say I.