In a recent sermon a bishop declared that more than half of the present world troubles was due to a mad scramble for useless wealth, yet no man grew happier in proportion to the growth of his possessions.
I'm travellin' light (said old George Jones),
For I gits no joy from a hamperin' load:
So the further I goes the less I owns,
An' the free-er I feels on life's long road.
I have knowed a many who gathered great wealth,
But I feels no envy, I claims no right.
All that I needs is me tucker an' health;
So I'm travellin' light.
There is many a time as I've heard it said
He's the happiest man whose wants are few.
I've found what I want. So, why worry me head
With other men's wants or what other men do?
When I was a striplin' I set great store
By this gettin' an' havin'; but as years went
I had little of gold; but I gathered much more,
For I gathered content.
Travellin' light (said old George Jones),
Oh I learnt the knack of it none too soon;
A bit of a bunk for me weary bones,
In a bit of a house, an' the priceless boon
Of a bit of content, with the day's work done,
An' a bit of a yarn with a friend at night,
It's a long, long road to the set o' the sun;
So I'm travellin' light.
First published in The Herald, 31 August 1933;
and later in
The Courier-Mail, 16 September 1933.
Author reference sites: C.J. Dennis, Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Poetry Library
See also.
