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by John Masefield (1878 - 1967)

Vagabond
 (Sung text for setting by J. Ireland)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
Dunno a heap about the what an' why,
Can't say's I ever knowed.
Heaven to me's a fair blue stretch of sky,
Earth's jest a dusty road.

Dunno the names o' thigs, nor what they are,
Can't say's I ever will.
Dunno about God - he's jest the noddin' star
Atop the windy hill.

Dunno about Life - it's jest a tramp alone,
From wakin'-time to doss.
Dunno about Death - it's jest a quiet stone
All over-grey wi' moss. 

An' why I live, an' why the old world spins,
Are things I never knowed.
My mark's the gypsy fires, the lonely inns,
An' jest the dusty road.
First published in Outlook, February 1902

Composition:

    Set to music by John (Nicholson) Ireland (1879 - 1962), "Vagabond", 1922, published 1922 [ medium voice and piano ]

Text Authorship:

  • by John Masefield (1878 - 1967), "Vagabond", appears in Salt Water Ballads, first published 1902

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this page: Ted Perry

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

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