Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Vagabond (Neil Balfour & Jenny Martins)

Neil Balfour and Jenny Martins performing The Vagabond (from Songs of Travel) by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Recorded in the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings. Neil was a Britten Pears Young Artist 2020 - 2021. This song was rehearsed in a masterclass with Malcolm Martineau and Simon Keenleyside before being recorded by Britten Pears Arts. LYRICS Give to me the life I love, Let the lave go by me, Give the jolly heaven above And the byway night me. Bed in the bush with stars to see, Bread I dip in the river -- There's the life for a man like me, There's the life for ever. Let the blow fall soon or late, Let what will be o'er me; Give the face of earth around And the road before me. Wealth I seek not, hope nor love, Nor a friend to know me; All I seek, the heaven above And the road below me. Or let autumn fall on me Where afield I linger, Silencing the bird on tree, Biting the blue finger; White as meal the frosty field -- Warm the fireside haven -- Not to autumn will I yield, Not to winter even! Let the blow fall soon or late, Let what will be o'er me; Give the face of earth around, And the road before me. Wealth I ask not, hope, nor love, Nor a friend to know me. All I ask, the heaven above And the road below me. email: info@artsongstory.com www.artsongstory.com