So, We’ll Go No More A-Roving

Lord Byron

Background

George Gordon Byron was born in 1788 and became Lord Byron on the death of his father in 1798. He is often thought of as the 'bad boy' of English Romantic poetry. The poem is based on the sixteenth-century sea shanty ‘The Maid of Amsterdam’. In many versions of the song, the words are rather risqué. Byron’s poem was included in a letter to a friend and fellow reveller, Thomas Moore.

'I feel anxious to hear from you, even more than usual, because you last indicated that you were unwell. At present, I am on the invalid regimen myself. The Carnival – that is, the latter part of it – and sitting up late o’nights, had knocked me up a little. But it is over, and it is now Lent, with all its abstinence and Sacred Music. 'The mumming closed with a masked ball at the Fenice, where I went, as also to most of the ridottos etc. etc. and though I did not dissipate much upon the whole, yet I find the “sword wearing out the scabbard”, though I have but just turned the corner of twenty-nine.'

The opening word of the poem links back to  a text which is not presented with the poem, this gives a sense of conversation, a  light, informal tone and a sense of continuation.

The meter and rhyme are particularly striking in their simplicity.  The fact that is this a poem with its roots in sea shanties is something that resonates through the three stanzas.  This is a poem that could easily be sung – and you may wish to do so; it would certainly help the audience get a clearer idea of the mood of the poem!  Importantly, we must consider what the effects of this structure and mood are on the poem.  Can you find out anything about sea shanties?

The structure of the poem is regular: three quatrains with a regular rhyme scheme – what is the rhyme scheme and what are its effects on the mood of the poem?  If it is particularly simple does this say something about the content of the poem?

The meter is also very regular and simple.  You should count the number syllables in a each line, do this very carefully, and see if at any point there are any irregularities.  If, for example, there is one line with fewer syllables than you might expect you can assume this was something intended by the poet.  If so, where is this line, or lines, and what is the effect of this?

In terms of the content of the poem, what are the important and striking features?  How is time presented for example?  Is this related to the theme at all?

The tone of this poem is also very important.  This is related to the form of the sea shanty, and seems to mix a carefree attitude with some resignation, self-criticism and even regret.  There are other adjectives which you may use to describe this: you must try and explain how these tones are achieved and what they say about the theme of the poem and even the poet himself.

Finally, how does this poem make you feel?  This is a more complicated question than you might think.