The Wanderer

The Wanderer is an Old English poem from the 10th century, preserved in the Exeter Book.

It is a profoundly mournful poem, in which the author, an aged man, speaks of an attack upon his people that happened in his youth. In this attack, his close friends and kin were all killed, and memories of the slaughter have remained with him all his life. He questions the wisdom of the impetuous decision to engage a possibly superior fighting force: the wise man engages in warfare to preserve civil society, and must not rush into battle but seek out allies when the odds may be against him. This poet finds little glory in bravery for bravery's sake.

He vividly describes his loneliness and yearning for the bright days past, and concludes with an admonition to put faith in God, "in whom all stability dwells".

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The Wanderer is also a song by U2, from the album Zooropa. The words are sung by Johnny Cash.