The Undertaker's Horse track 04. Thanks to rocketman0739 for providing high-quality versions of these songs.
Download the album here: archive.org/details/filk_unde...
Find more of Leslie Fish's music at: lesliefish.bandcamp.com/
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Lyrics:
All we have of freedom, all we use or know-
Our forefathers bought for us many years ago.
Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw-
Leave to live by no man's leave, under nature's Law.
So they bought us freedom-not at little cost-
Therefore we must watch for kings, lest our gain be lost.
Over all things certain, this is sure indeed:
Suffer not the old King, for we know the breed.
Give no ear to bondsmen bidding us endure,
Whining "He is weak and far"; crying "Time will cure."
They would beg us barter-wait his yielding mood-
Pledge the years we hold in trust-pawn our brother's blood
Howso great their clamor, what so good their claim
Suffer not the old King under any name!
Nothing here unproven, nothing new to learn,
It is written what shall fall if the King return.
He will mark our goings, question whence we came,
Set his guards about us, all in Freedom's name.
He will take a tribute, toll of all our ware
He will change our gold for arms-that we may not bear.
He will peep and mutter and the night shall bring
Watchers 'neath our window, lest we mock the King.
Strangers of his counsel, hirelings of his pay-
These will deal our Justice out: sell-deny-delay.
We shall drink dishonor, we shall eat abuse
For the land we live in, for the tongue we use.
We will take our station, dirt beneath his feet,
While his hired captains jeer us in the street.
Cruel in the shadow, crafty in the sun.
Far beyond his borders shall his teachings run
Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain-
All our fathers died to loose, he shall bind again.
Nothing here is guessed at, random, or untrue-
Swings the wheel full circle, brims the cup anew.
Nothing here unproven, nothing here is hid:
Step by step and word for word, so the old Kings did!
Step by step, word for word, who is ruled may read.
Suffer not the old King, for we know the breed-
All the right they promise, all the wrong they bring.
Keepers of the Judgment, suffer not the King.