Oh little country, land of my birth,
You may just as well be the whole of the earth,
It saddens me to know my eyes will never see,
All of this England, so dear to me.
All of my life I’ve longed to roam,
Around your shores away from home,
To see craggy cliffs, waves rippling on beaches,
But no matter how my longing reaches out,
And my imagination stirs,
No travel plans are made, no journey occurs.
I’m shackled by duty, bound by love,
Longing for sanctuary in some sheltered cove.
No dreams have I for foreign climes,
Hot dusty deserts, cold arctic plains,
But if ever I shake off this tie that remains,
I’ll roam, oh I’ll roam, away from my home,
To feel English sand between my toes,
Watch sea parrots on craggy cliffs, in repose.
Admire seals laid basking in the sun,
Or heather clad moors, see native ponies run.
Watch imaginary pirates from some secluded cave,
A life of risk, being daring and brave.
All these journeys I’ve planned, but in my mind,
I can’t take them just yet, can’t leave you behind,
It’s true sometimes, you’re out of sight,
But I swear, you’ll never be out of mind!