Song of the Day - 22nd October

Today's Song of the Day is a setting of a poem called "On Retirement" by Philip Freneau.

I do still have a good few years to go yet before I reach retirement age but I find myself dreaming of finally being able to lose the shackles of the day job and spend my days chilling, writing music, eating chocolate and doing whatever I want.

Freneau was an American poet, nationalist, polemicist, sea captain and early American newspaper editor sometimes called the "Poet of the American Revolution". He was active during the time of the American Revolution, rubbing shoulders with such historical figures as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington. In fact, owing to his newspaper's frequent attacks on his administration and himself, Washington took a particular dislike to Freneau.

However, whatever your politics, I think Freneau's words will strike a chord with many of us, and for those of you reading this who are already retired - I envy you!

Get the music for this song for free - find out how here.

On Retirement
By Philip Freneau

A hermit’s house beside a stream,
With forests planted round,
Whatever it to you may seem
More real happiness I deem
Than if I were a monarch crown’d.

A cottage I could call my own,
Remote from domes of care;
A little garden walled with stone,
The wall with ivy overgrown,
A limpid fountain near,

Would more substantial joys afford,
More real bliss impart
Than all the wealth that misers hoard,
Than vanquish’d worlds, or worlds restored—
Mere cankers of the heart!

Vain, foolish man! how vast thy pride,
How little can your wants supply!—
’Tis surely wrong to grasp so wide—
You act as if you only had
To vanquish—not to die!