Classical journalist and poet, Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, New York. His family financial situation was modest compared to his large size. Whitman's commitment to family propelled him into employment at a young age, depriving him of a formal education during his adolescence. Lack of formal education was no obstacle for the young Whitman; his self-education through reading and exploration of the written word eventually led him to his first teaching position at the age of seventeen, an unacceptable occurrence in today's 21st century. A career in journalism is soon on the horizon for this young educator, one he explores after his fifth year of teaching. Whitman conveyed strong ideas based on primary issues of a social and political nature such as women's rights and slavery. (Walt) The volatility shown in his journalistic style on urban and political issues is often difficult to understand as the same poetic songwriter found in the melodic notes of one such as Whitman as is found in the poem " Song of the Open Road. If education could have been afforded to him, it is likely that his opportunities would have been broadened in musicality, learning the ways of writing music as another way of presenting his artistic works in the poetry of words. Whitman began writing his best-known work. in the year 1848; nearly seven years later, he has produced a significant number of writings, all grouped under the umbrella of "Leaves of Grass" in which "Song of the Open Road" is permanently housed. Whitman offers the reader seventeen verses identifying a prolific period in his life as a war reporter on the road, but especially the open road of the spirit and the breath of life. This...... middle of paper ......OurInternship. Np, and Web. March 1, 2014. .Shelton, Robert. No Direction at Home: The Life and Music of Bob Dylan. New York: Beech Tree Books, 1986. Print. Shrock, Dennis. Choral repertoire. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Smith, Henry Nash. “Walt Whitman and Manifest Destiny.” Huntington Library Quarterly 10.4 (1947): 373-389. Print."Song of the Open Road." By Walt Whitman: The Poetry Foundation. Np, and Web. February 9, 2014. "the guardian." the guard. Guardian News and Media, nd Web. March 1, 2014. “Walt Whitman Biography.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, and Web. February 09, 2014. “Welcome to the official Norman Dello Joio website! » Norman Dello Joio official website. Np, and Web. March 1. 2014. .