The House by the Side of the Road

This piece is a gentle reminder from long ago to treat every person with kindness and respect.

Sam Walter Foss wrote this poem in the late 1870s using “man”, “men” and “mankind” to represent all people, (which was considered appropriate and correct in his time, over 100 years ago). The message of his poem is of acceptance, welcoming all people who passed by his house. This contemporary adaptation of his poem uses “all”, “ones”, “those” and “people” to update the language to 21st Century standards, aiming to stay true to Foss’s original message of kindness and acceptance.

The musical setting is reminiscent of a simple folk song, reflecting the era in which the poem was written.

“The House by the Side of the Road” – computer-generated realization by Cantāmus Vocaloids.

This score is available for purchase directly from the composer using the Contact page. Please order a copy for each choir member, plus one for your conductor and one for your accompanist.

Full score (pdf with license): $2.00 / copy
Printed scores: order through J. W. Pepper
A free score (with some redactions) is available for preview