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?
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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