Source: Australian Melodist Songster
Tune: The Night Before Larry Was Stretched
THE PERIPATETIC PHILOSOPHER
By Marcus Clarke esq
I'm in hunger, in dirt, and in rage –
What care I? For life just a farce is;
I wander all day on the flags,
And I laugh at the whole world as it passes.
You have cafes resplendent with light;
At a penny stall I sip my coffee, sir;
And repose in a gaspipe at night,
Like a peripatetic philosopher,
- and my name is Barry O'Neil.
I once was a millionaire,
And princes have dined at my table;
Now my castles are all in the air,
And my country-house but a stable,
What care I? I've drunk my life's cup,
Tasted pleasure in all its variety,
And though now I'm rather hard up,
(Proudly) – I have moved in the highest society.
- and my name is Barry O'Neil.
Economy now is the plan:
Tis an excellent virtue – in season;
But it seems rather hard on a man
To give him the sack without reason.
Civil servants let loose on the town,
Are weeping with volunteer officers,
And go wandering all up and down,
Poor peripatetic Philosophers!
- God help 'em, says Barry O'Neil
The world all quartz-reefing must go –
I assure you it's nothing but folly;
For I've worked on famed Bendigo,
And a 'hatter' I've been at Dunolly,
I've carried my swag to each place,
And then all the way back I did lug it;
Though I've worked 'til I'm black in the face,
I've ne'er found a two hundred pound nugget
- no such luck for poor Barry O'Neil.
SITE SOURCE: Sydney Folklore Project - Section 14: CITY LIFE
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