Songs for the Open Road Quotes

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.
Healthy, free, the world before me.
The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose.
Henceforth, I ask not good fortune, I myself am good fortune.
Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing.”
― Walt Whitman, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“Sea-Fever I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face and a grey dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the seagulls crying. I must go down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“To the Not Impossible Him How shall I know, unless I go To Cairo and Cathay, Whether or not this blessed spot Is blest in every way? Now it may be, the flower for me Is this beneath my nose; How shall I tell, unless I smell The Carthaginian rose? The fabric of my faithful love No power shall dim or ravel Whilst I stay here,—but oh, my dear, If I should ever travel! Edna St. Vincent Millay”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“America for Me ‘Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down

Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,

To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,—

But now I think I’ve had enough of antiquated things. So it’s home again, and home again, America for me!

My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,

In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars. Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air;

And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in her hair;

And it’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome;

But when it comes to living there is no place like home. I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled;

I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled;

But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day

In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way! I know that Europe’s wonderful, yet something seems to lack:

The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.

But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free,—

We love our land for what she is and what she is to be. Oh, it’s home again, and home again, America for me!

I want a ship that’s westward bound to plough the rolling sea,

To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars. Henry Van”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“Pennsylvania Station The Pennsylvania Station in New York

Is like some vast basilica of old

That towers above the terrors of the dark

As bulwark and protection to the soul.

Now people who are hurrying alone

And those who come in crowds from far away

Pass through this great concourse of steel and stone

To trains, or else from trains out into day.

And as in great basilicas of old

The search was ever for a dream of God,

So here the search is still within each soul

Some seed to find to root in earthly sod,

Some seed to find that sprouts a holy tree

To glorify the earth—and you—and me. Langston Hughes”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“Death of an Old Seaman We buried him high on a windy hill,

But his soul went out to sea.

I know, for I heard, when all was still,

His sea-soul say to me: Put no tombstone at my head,

For here I do not make my bed.

Strew no flowers on my grave,

I’ve gone back to the wind and wave.

Do not, do not weep for me,

For I am happy with my sea. Langston Hughes”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“Roadways One road leads to London, One road runs to Wales, My road leads me seawards To the white dipping sails. One road leads to the river, As it goes singing slow; My road leads to shipping, Where the bronzed sailors go. Leads me, lures me, calls me To salt green tossing sea; A road without earth’s road-dust Is the right road for me. A wet road heaving, shining, And wild with seagull’s cries, A mad salt sea-wind blowing The salt spray in my eyes. My road calls me, lures me West, east, south, and north; Most roads lead men homewards, My road leads me forth To add more miles to the tally Of grey miles left behind, In quest of that one beauty God put me here to find. John Masefield”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“Up, up the long delirious burning blue”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“So here the search is still within each soul Some seed to find to root in earthly sod, Some seed to find that sprouts a holy tree To glorify the earth—and you—and me.   Langston”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“My heart is warm with the friends I make,”
― The American Poetry and Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure

“Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune. Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road.”
― The American Poetry & Literacy Project, Songs for the Open Road: Poems of Travel and Adventure