The following exhortation was inspired by our own Rapaire, and therefore qualifies for anthologisation herein:

I left my parents' homestead
"Succeed!" they did often me tell.
And little did I think I would shame them
By the cruel fate, that then me befell.

I wandered from city to sity,
Endeavouring my talents to sell,
But my efforts did fail, and at the end of my trail,
I'm only a poor ne'er-do-well.

I'm only a poor ne'er-do-well.
I'm only a poor ne'er-do-well.
At the end of the line, I look 'round me and find,
I'm only a poor ne'er-do-well.

So I wandered to far distant regions,
I hoped to leave shame far behind,
'Neath the Idaho stars, in the cheapest of bars
With worry my poor face is lined.

I cannot reach Upper CLass Heaven,
Not even Middle Class Hell,
I'm afraid in my time, I will turn next to crime,
As a nefarious ne'er-do-well

A nefarious ne'er-do-well!
A nefarious ne'er-do-well!
I have fallen so low, to my fate I must go,
As a nefarious ne'er-do-well!

So come, all you lads from the city
And may your endeavours be blessed,
Take a lesson from me,
No ne'er-do-well be!
Go become a nefarious success!

Become a nefarious success!
Become a nefarious success!
Take a lesson from me,
No ne'er-do-well be!
Go become a nefarious success!


Gobsahve Luce Spiddle
Spray When You Sing!
Misunderstood Revelations Press, Saskatchewan 1954