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| I ’M king of the road! I gather | |
| My toll on the world’s highways. | |
| They pave the street for my royal feet, | |
| And the man in the wagon pays. | |
| With my sturdy heels I laugh at wheels; | 5 |
| I hurry at no man’s will, | |
| For the rich who ride my meat provide; | |
| They must feed the king to his fill. | |
| |
| I ’m kin of the road! Before me | |
| My way lies over the land, | 10 |
| With a wild rose train from meadow and lane | |
| And the hail of a song-bird band. | |
| They ar slaves who team by wagon or steam: | |
| The footman carries to crown. | |
| What cares the tramp whose supper and camp | 15 |
| Are waiting in every town? | |
| |
| I ’m king of the road all summer; | |
| In winter I still go free. | |
| Let the snow-blast come, in a nook I ’ll chum | |
| With a gipsy crew like me. | 20 |
| I ’ll ask no shares with home-proud heirs; | |
| They ’re the scorn of my soul while I | |
| Can tread the floors of the great Out-doors, | |
| And nobody ask me why. | |
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