Long I thought that knowledge alone would suffice me --
  O if I could but obtain knowledge!
The my lands engrossed me -- Lands of the prairies, Ohio's land,
  the southern savannas, engrossed me -- For them I would live --
  I would be their orator;
Then I met the examples of old and new heroes -- I heard of warriors, 
  sailors, and all dauntless persons -- 
  And it seemed to me that I too had it in me to be as dauntless as any
  -- and would be so;
And then, to enclose all, it came to me to strike up the songs of the New World
  -- And then I believed my life must be spent in singing;
But now take notice, land of the prairies, land of the south savannas, Ohio's land,
Take notice, you Kanuck woods -- and you Lake Huron -- 
  and all that with you roll toward Niagara -- and you Niagara also,
And you, Californian mountains -- That you each and all find somebody else
  to be your singer of songs,
For I can be your singer of songs no longer -- One who loves me is jealous of me,
  and withdraws me from all but love,
With the rest I dispense -- I sever from what I thought would suffice me, 
  for it does not -- it is now empty and tasteless to me,
I heed knowledge, and the grandeur of The States, and the example of heroes, no more,
I am indifferent to my own songs -- I will go with him I love,
It is to be enough for us that we are together -- We will never separate again.