Where does the quote ""All I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her bye" come from?

Question

I heard this on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and I'm relatively sure he was quoting something just I dont know what, I'm thinking either Moby Dick or something along those lines ... Shakespear maybe???

Answer 1

It was by John Masefiled. It was once quoated by someone (perhaps William Shatner0 in Star Trek (either the tv show and or a one of the first 5 movies.). Of course it was only the words you included in your post, not the entirety. I like it.

Answer 2

From a poem by John Masefield, according to wikipedia, he
was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967. He is remembered as the author of the classic children's novels The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights, two novels "Captain Margaret" and "Multitude and Solitude" and a great deal of memorable poetry, including "The Everlasting Mercy", and "Sea-Fever", from his anthology Saltwater Ballads.

The quote is from Sea Fever by John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Answer 3

Sea Fever
by John Masefield (1878-1967)

I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song
and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face
and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call
that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day
with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again
to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn
from a laughing fellow rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream
when the long trick's over.

Answer 4

"Sea-Fever"

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).
(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)

Answer 5

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

"Sea Fever" by John Masefield.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Where does the quote ""All I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her bye" come from?
I heard this on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and I'm relatively sure he was quoting something just I dont know what, I'm thinking either Moby Dick or something along those lines ... Shakespear maybe???

Answer 7

Willy Wonka misquotes John Masefield's line in "Sea Fever" when he says "...and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her by". The correct line is "...and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by".

Most people believe the filmmakers made the mistake on purpose.

Answer 8

Well I must say that I much prefer "sail" to steer. It is specific and graceful while steer is broad and sloppy.

Answer 9

Good one