To hell with Government I say; I'm sick of all the piddling pack. I'd like to scram, get clean away, And never, nevermore come back. With heart of hope I long to go To some lost island of the sea, And there get drunk with joy to know No one on earth is over me. There will be none to say me nay, So from my lexicon I can Obliterate the word "obey", And mock the meddling laws of man. The laws of Nature and of God Are good enough for guys like me, Who scorn to kiss the scarlet rod Of office and authority. No Stars and Stripes nor Union Jack, Nor tri-colour nor crimson rag Shall claim my love, I'll turn my back On every land, on every flag. My banner shall be stainless white, An emblem of the Golden Rule, Yet for its freedom I will fight And die - like any other fool. Oh Government's a bitter pill! No force or fear shall forge my fate; I'll bow to no communal will, For I myself shall be the State. Uncurst by man-curb and control, my Isle shall be emparadised, And I will re-possess my soul . . . Mad Anarchist! - Well, wasn't Christ?
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Text Authorship:
- by Robert Service (1874 - 1958), "Freedom's Fool", appears in Rhymes of a Roughneck, first published 1951 [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), "I Am Freedom's Fool", 2008 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-07
Line count: 32
Word count: 206