Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

A. E. Housman (1859–1936). A Shropshire Lad. 1896.

III. Leave your home behind, lad

The Recruit

LEAVE your home behind, lad,

And reach your friends your hand,

And go, and luck go with you

While Ludlow tower shall stand.

Oh, come you home of Sunday

When Ludlow streets are still

And Ludlow bells are calling

To farm and lane and mill,

Or come you home of Monday

When Ludlow market hums

And Ludlow chimes are playing

‘The conquering hero comes,’

Come you home a hero,

Or come not home at all,

The lads you leave will mind you

Till Ludlow tower shall fall.

And you will list the bugle

That blows in lands of morn,

And make the foes of England

Be sorry you were born.

And you till trump of doomsday

On lands of morn may lie,

And make the hearts of comrades

Be heavy where you die.

Leave your home behind you,

Your friends by field and town:

Oh, town and field will mind you

Till Ludlow tower is down.