A Well-Travelled Man

Seems so many years now since he set off down the road

For the bright lights of the city and his story to unfold

No strings, no family plans, no ties to hold him down

His first avowed intent, to leave this dormitory town

At first, he lay just dreaming till he hit upon a plan

To be a true civilian and a well-travelled man

His father told him: "Listen son, the world lies at your feet

Great lands of opportunity and strangers all to meet"

So seize the day, go make your mark,

'cause fortune loves the brave

So many places to be seen

Before you see your grave

See the stars shoot over Cape Town

Where the oceans all converge

Ride the desert train at midnight

Even sail the universe

Gather round, come one, come all

Listen best ye can

Raise a glass and give a cheer

You can see all at once he's a well-travelled man

That long and dusty trail, it ran to anywhere but home

Dined equally with pagan chiefs and emperors of Rome

Through ages dark and winters long, lost in the strangest lands

Through countless revolutions saw man's cruelty to man

Been a butcher, been a saviour

Been a friend you wouldn't choose

Built temples and filled graveyards

For the side that couldn't lose

Would you walk with him as spirits

In the quiet of the night

And seek to have the power

For to set the world to right?

Gather round, come one, come all

Listen best ye can

Raise a glass and give a cheer

You can see all at once he's a well-travelled man

Gather round, come one, come all

Listen best ye can

Raise a glass and give a cheer

You can say what you like, he's a well-travelled man

Seems so many years now since he set off all alone

To see the wonders of this world, prove the stories he'd been sold

Seeks the "milk of human kindness" and he takes it where he can

From the yachts of Monte Carlo to a teahouse in Japan

But now, he sits forsaken with a beer glass in his hand

Won't anybody listen to the well-travelled man?