American Old Time Song Lyrics: 04 The Vagabond
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 4
THE VAGABOND.
Homeless, ragged and tanned,
Under the changeful sky,
Who so free in the land?
Who so contended as I?
Never need I quake
Lest fortune prove unkind.
Never my heart break
That vows have ceased to bind.
Not even a dog
Would I call by friendship's name;
Lonely I jog,
E'en thither whence I came.
Chorus.
Homeless, ragged and tanued,
Under the changeful sky,
Who so free in the land?
Who so contended as I?
Nursed by hunger and want,
Taught out of nature's page,
Banned by saintliest cant,
Scorning hypocrisy's wage.
Singing, I plod by wayward fancy led,
Trusting in God, who the sparrows still hath fed.
No! let me die-ere be the world's base thrall,
Fate I defy-to-morrow ne'er recall.-Chorus.
Once tender love watched at my side,
Now from above her angels may guide;
When heaven above asks my last breath,
Angel-love smile on the vagabond's death,
Smile on the vagabond's death.
Ah! homeless, ragged and tanned,
Under the changeful sky,
Who so free in the land?
Who so contended as I?-Chorus.