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by John Masefield (1878 - 1967)

The seekers
 (Sung text for setting by G. Dyson)
 See original
Language: English 
Friends and loves we have none, nor wealth nor blessed abode,
But the hope, the burning hope, and the road, the open road.

Not for us are content, and quiet, and peace of mind,
For we go seeking cities that we shall never find.

There is no solace on earth for us such as we
Who search for the hidden beauty that eyes may never see.

Only the road and the dawn, the sun, the wind, and the rain,
And the watch fire under stars, and sleep, and the road again.

We seek the City of God, and the haunt where beauty dwells,
And we find the noisy mart and the sound of burial bells.

Never the golden city, where radiant people meet,
But the dolorous town where mourners are going about the street.

We travel the dusty road till the light of the day is dim,
And sunset shows us spires away on the world's rim.

We travel from dawn to dusk, till the day is past and by,
Seeking the Holy City beyond the rim of the sky.

Friends and loves we have none, nor wealth nor blessed abode,
But the hope, the burning hope, and the road, the open road.

Composition:

    Set to music by George Dyson (1883 - 1964), "The seekers", subtitle: "stanzas 1-4,7,9", published 1935 [ SATB chorus and strings with optional instruments ], from Three Songs of Courage

Text Authorship:

  • by John Masefield (1878 - 1967), "The seekers", appears in Ballads, first published 1903

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-12-31
Line count: 18
Word count: 221

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