The House by the Side of the Road

Sam Walter Foss wrote this poem in the late 1970s using "man", "men" and "mankind" to represent all people, which was considered appropriate and correct in his time. 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.