The tramps (Service, set by A. Bliss) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Can you recall, dear comrade, when we tramped God's land together,
And we sang the old, old Earth-song, for our youth was very sweet;
When we drank and fought and lusted, as we mocked at tie and tether,
Along the road to Anywhere, the wide world at our feet.

Along the road to Anywhere, where each day had its story
When time was yet our vassal, and life's jest was still unstale;
When peace unfathomed filled our hearts, as bathed in amber glory,
Along the road to Anywhere we watched the sunsets pale. 

Alas the road to Anywhere is pitfalled with disaster;
There's hunger, want and weariness, yet, O we loved it so!
As on we marched exultantly . . . and no man was our master,
And no man guessed what dreams were ours, as swinging heel and toe,
We tramped the road to Anywhere,
Tthe magic road to Anywhere,
The tragic road to Anywhere,
Such dear dim years ago.

Input by Ted Perry

Authorship

Robert Service (1874-1958)

The Spell of the Yukon

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, Sir (1891-1975)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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