I am the People, the Mob
Carl Sandburg
1878 to 1967
I am the people— the mob— the crowd— the mass
Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?
I am the workingman, the inventor, the maker of the world's food and clothes
I am the audience that witnesses history
The Napoleons come from me and the Lincolns
They die
And then I send forth more Napoleons and Lincolns
I am the seed ground
I am a prairie that will stand for much plowing
Terrible storms pass over me
I forget
The best of me is sucked out and wasted
I forget
Everything but Death comes to me and makes me work and give up what I have
And I forget
Sometimes I growl, shake myself and spatter a few red drops for history
to remember
Then— I forget
When I, the People, learn to remember, when I, the People, use the lessons of yesterday and no longer forget who robbed me last year, who played me for a fool— then there will be no speaker in all the world say the name "The People," with any fleck of a sneer in his voice or any far-off smile of derision
The mob— the crowd— the mass— will arrive then
Carl Sandburg's I am the People, the Mob
We are busy working to bring Carl Sandburg's "I am the People, the Mob" to life through our unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you soon.
At V2Melody, each arrangement is crafted with care through a thoughtful partnership of human artistry and technological innovation. This process involves:
- Deep analysis of the poem's rhythm, structure, and emotional essence
- Careful selection of musical styles that enhance the poem's unique voice
- Balancing traditional poetic expression with contemporary sound landscapes
- Multiple revisions to ensure the arrangement honors the poet's original vision
This creative journey takes time—each composition represents hours of dedicated work to create something that deepens our connection to Carl Sandburg's words in meaningful ways.
While you wait for our complete interpretation, we invite you to explore other musical arrangements in our gallery or learn more about Carl Sandburg's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "I am the People, the Mob" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.