'The Song Of The Wage-Slave' by Robert Service

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When the long, long day is over, and the Big Boss gives me my pay,
I hope that it won't be hell-fire, as some of the parsons say.
And I hope that it won't be heaven, with some of the parsons I've met --
All I want is just quiet, just to rest and forget.
Look at my face, toil-furrowed; look at my calloused hands;
Master, I've done Thy bidding, wrought in Thy many lands --
Wrought for the little masters, big-bellied they be, and rich;
I've done their desire for a daily hire, and I die like a dog in a ditch.
I have used the strength Thou hast given, Thou knowest I did not shirk;
Threescore years of labor -- Thine be the long day's work.
And now, Big Master, I'm broken and bent and twisted and scarred,
But I've held my job, and Thou knowest, and Thou will not judge me hard.
Thou knowest my sins are many, and often I've played the fool --
Whiskey and cards and women, they made me the devil's tool.
I was just like a child with money; I flung it away with a curse,
Feasting a fawning parasite, or glutting a harlot's purse;
Then back to the woods repentant, back to the mill or the mine,
I, the worker of workers, everything in my line.
Everything hard but headwork (I'd no more brains than a kid),
A brute with brute strength to labor, doing as I was bid;
Living in camps with men-folk, a lonely and loveless life;
Never knew kiss of sweetheart, never caress of wife.
A brute with brute strength to labor, and they were so far above --
Yet I'd gladly have gone to the gallows for one little look of Love.
I, with the strength of two men, savage and shy and wild --
Yet how I'd ha' treasured a woman, and the sweet, warm kiss of a child!
Well, 'tis Thy world, and Thou knowest. I blaspheme and my ways be rude;
But I've lived my life as I found it, and I've done my best to be good;
I, the primitive toiler, half naked and grimed to the eyes,
Sweating it deep in their ditches, swining it stark in their styes;
Hurling down forests before me, spanning tumultuous streams;
Down in the ditch building o'er me palaces fairer than dreams;
Boring the rock to the ore-bed, driving the road through the fen,
Resolute, dumb, uncomplaining, a man in a world of men.
Master, I've filled my contract, wrought in Thy many lands;
Not by my sins wilt Thou judge me, but by the work of my hands.
Master, I've done Thy bidding, and the light is low in the west,
And the long, long shift is over . . . Master, I've earned it -- Rest.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Song Of The Wage-Slave: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Are you tired of the monotony of your daily routine? Do you feel like a cog in the machine, working long hours for little pay? If so, Robert Service's "The Song of the Wage-Slave" is the perfect antidote to your dreary existence. This classic poem captures the struggles and aspirations of the working class, and offers a glimmer of hope for a better future.

Context

First, let's take a look at the context in which the poem was written. Robert Service was a Scottish-born poet who spent most of his life in Canada. He was born in 1874 and died in 1958, and during his lifetime he witnessed significant social and economic changes. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization, as people moved from rural areas to cities and factories replaced farms as the primary source of employment. This shift brought about many social and economic challenges, including the exploitation of workers and the growth of inequality.

Service was acutely aware of these issues, and his poetry often reflects his concern for the plight of the working class. "The Song of the Wage-Slave" is a prime example of this. It was first published in 1912, during a period of intense labor activism and social unrest. In Canada, workers were organizing unions and going on strike in an effort to win better wages and working conditions. Service was sympathetic to their cause, and his poem reflects his belief that workers should be treated with respect and dignity.

Content

So, what is the poem about? At its core, it is a lament for the life of the wage-slave, those workers who toil endlessly for little reward. The poem is structured as a series of rhetorical questions, each one highlighting the harsh realities of the wage-slave's existence. For example:

Does it pay? - Hardly; and yet it's the only way. Is it fair? - Not in the least; but what can you do, I say?

These lines capture the resigned acceptance of the wage-slave's lot. He knows that his work is undervalued and his life is difficult, but he feels powerless to change his situation. He is trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair, with little hope of escape.

However, the poem also contains glimmers of hope. Service suggests that the wage-slave's struggles are not in vain, and that his labor contributes to the greater good. He writes:

Yet let us hope that the day will come When Sweatshop Slavery is dead and done, When the Overlord's greed and the Slave's distress Shall vanish alike into Nothingness; When Labor shall stand on an equal plane And the Toiler reap what the Toiler 'as sown in pain.

These lines offer a vision of a more just and equitable society, one in which workers are valued and respected. Service suggests that the wage-slave's struggles are not in vain, but rather are part of a larger struggle for social justice.

Style

One of the most striking things about "The Song of the Wage-Slave" is its use of language. Service was a master of rhyme and meter, and his poetry has a musical quality that makes it a joy to read. The poem is written in a simple, straightforward style, with lines that are easy to memorize and recite. This style is well-suited to the poem's theme, which is the struggle of ordinary people against overwhelming odds.

Service also makes effective use of repetition and rhetorical questions. The repeated use of the phrase "Does it pay?" emphasizes the futility of the wage-slave's labor, while the rhetorical questions draw attention to the injustices of his situation. These techniques make the poem more powerful and memorable, and help to convey its message to the reader.

Interpretation

So, what can we take away from "The Song of the Wage-Slave"? At its core, the poem is a call to action. It asks us to consider the plight of the working class and to work for a more just and equitable society. Service suggests that the struggles of the wage-slave are not in vain, and that through collective action, we can create a better world.

In many ways, the poem is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Despite the progress that has been made in the last century, many workers still face the same challenges that Service wrote about. Income inequality, job insecurity, and exploitation are still rampant in many parts of the world. "The Song of the Wage-Slave" offers a reminder that the struggle for social justice is ongoing, and that we must continue to fight for a better world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Song of the Wage-Slave" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the struggles and aspirations of the working class. Through its use of language and repetition, it conveys a powerful message of hope and resilience. The poem reminds us that the fight for social justice is ongoing, and that we must continue to work towards a more just and equitable society. If you are feeling disillusioned with your own life as a wage-slave, read this poem and take heart. You are not alone, and your struggles are not in vain.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Song of the Wage-Slave: A Poem of Struggle and Triumph

Robert Service's "The Song of the Wage-Slave" is a powerful poem that captures the struggles and triumphs of the working class. Written in 1912, the poem speaks to the experiences of those who toil day in and day out for a meager wage, and the hope that sustains them through their hardships.

The poem begins with a vivid description of the wage-slave's life: "Weary of toil, I haste me home, / The swinging scythe is laid aside, / The evening star has lit its dome, / And I am weary, wilted, dried." The speaker is exhausted from a long day's work, and the imagery of the "swinging scythe" and the "evening star" create a sense of weariness and longing for rest.

But despite the fatigue, the wage-slave is not defeated. He sings a song of hope and perseverance: "Yet in my heart there is a glow, / And through my veins new life doth bound, / For I have struck a telling blow, / And Freedom's foe is on the ground." The wage-slave has not given up; he has fought for his rights and won a victory against his oppressors.

The poem then shifts to a more philosophical tone, as the speaker reflects on the nature of work and the human condition. "For what is life but just a wage, / A weary toil from sun to sun?" he asks. "And what is death but just a stage, / When to the last long sleep we run?" The poem suggests that work is an essential part of life, but that it can also be a burden that we must bear.

Despite this, the wage-slave remains hopeful. He sings of the beauty of the world around him, and the joy that he finds in simple pleasures: "The moon is rising o'er the hill, / The stars are twinkling in the sky, / The world is fair and all is still, / And I am happy, though I sigh." The poem suggests that even in the midst of struggle and hardship, there is still beauty and joy to be found in life.

The final stanza of the poem is a triumphant declaration of the wage-slave's strength and resilience: "So let me toil and let me strive, / And let me hope, and let me sing, / For I am strong and I'm alive, / And I will conquer everything." The wage-slave is not defeated by his circumstances; he is empowered by them. He will continue to work, to hope, and to sing, and he will overcome any obstacle that comes his way.

Overall, "The Song of the Wage-Slave" is a powerful and inspiring poem that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of the working class. It captures the weariness and longing for rest that comes with hard work, but also the hope and resilience that sustains us through our hardships. The poem reminds us that even in the midst of struggle, there is still beauty and joy to be found in life, and that we have the strength to overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

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