> Steeleye Span > Songs > Roadways
Roadways
[John Masefield (1878-1967)]
Steeleye Span sang John Masefield' poem Roadways on their 2019 CD Est'd 1969. They noted:
To use the metaphor chosen by John Masefield in this poem from 1910, we all search for our roadway in life… although it could be said to be less metaphorical, and more literal, for us wandering musicians…
Orphaned at a young age, Masefield spent most of his childhood lost in books before heading off to sea whilst only in his early teenage years. He continued reading and writing throughout his time as a sailor, becoming an award-winning poet and many of his celebrated works relate to his time at sea. Despite his almost utopian view of life at sea expressed in the words here, he had actually deserted ship on his final voyage some 15 years before writing it, which makes Roadways all the more romantic to me.
Lyrics
John Masefield's poem Roadways | Steeleye Span sing Roadways |
---|---|
One road leads to London, |
One road leads to London, |
One road leads to the river, |
One road leads to the river, |
Leads me, lures me, calls me, |
Chorus: |
A wet road heaving, shining, |
A wet road heaving, shining, |
My road calls me, lures me, |
To add more miles to the tally (Chorus) |
To add more miles to the tally |
My road calls me, lures me, (Chorus) |