by John Masefield (1878 - 1967)
Vagabond
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
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
Authorship:
- by John Masefield (1878 - 1967), "Vagabond", appears in Salt Water Ballads, first published 1902 [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 Robert Coningsby Clarke (1879 - 1934), "Vagabond", published 1919 [ voice and piano ], from Songs of a Rover [sung text not yet checked]
- by John (Nicholson) Ireland (1879 - 1962), "Vagabond", 1922, published 1922 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 108