Lyrics:

The Song:

Beck, having previously remixed "Sexy Boy" off of Air's album, Moon Safari, was asked to contribute to their next album 10,000 Hz. Legend. When asked for the circumstances that brought them together, Beck said "Puberty." (Magnet Magazine, June/July 2001). Beck wrote the lyrics and melody after Air had finished the music. They then got together to work on the song together in Hollywood. Beck also added a long harmonica solo, which sticks out like a sore thumb from Air's normal electronica sounds.

The song makes builds on normal vagabond characteristics like being lost, having no direction, constant searching, but Beck rounds them out with hope and knowledge. Lines of vagrant despair like "I'm lost in my words / I don't know where I'm going" but are immediately countered with "I do the best I can not to worry about things." And despite claiming "I can lose my soul right here" and "[I] don't know what I'm looking for," this vagabond knows quite clearly what he's searching for: "Summer days will come / Happiness will be mine," and "something true, something lovely that will make me feel alive." He's looking for a feeling, and despite being a vagabond, he is confident he will arrive there. Beck uses his own passion towards music to describe this feeling as "a song that will last all night and for the rest of our lives."

The loose, homey feel is underlined by the song ending in laughter. Beck recalls what was so funny, "I saw J.B. (Dunckel) jog by wearing a leather, mini-backpack purse." (Magnet Magazine, June/July 2001).

Live:

Played live once:
April 22, 2003

Air toured briefly to support 10000 Hz. Legend, but I am told that Air probably never performed the song.

However, when Beck hit Paris on April 22 2003, Air joined him on stage for a couple of songs. . .one was "The Vagabond"! The live version sounds a little loose and haggard, probably due to that they've never played the song before, but all in all, they do an ok job. There's no drummer, so it feels like it drags a little, especially compared to the record. Beck plays acoustic guitar, and blasts a short harmonica solo, while Air adds some nice piano (and perhaps some more guitar?).