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by Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

They spoke of Progress spiring round
Language: English 
They spoke of Progress spiring round,
Of light and Mrs Humphrey Ward --
It is not true to say I frowned,
Or ran about the room and roared;
I might have simply sat and snored --
I rose politely in the club
And said, `I feel a little bored;
Will someone take me to a pub?'

The new world's wisest did surround
Me; and it pains me to record
I did not think their views profound,
Or their conclusions well assured;
The simple life I can't afford,
Besides, I do not like the grub --
I want a mash and sausage, `scored' --
Will someone take me to a pub?

I know where Men can still be found,
Anger and clamorous accord,
And virtues growing from the ground,
And fellowship of beer and board,
And song, that is a sturdy cord,
And hope, that is a hardy shrub,
And goodness, that is God's last word --
Will someone take me to a pub?

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 - 1936), no title, from Poems, first published 1915 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "A Ballade of an Anti-Puritan", 2005 [baritone and piano], from Drolleries and Wisdom, no. 6 [ sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2007-05-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 158

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