Stripéd King

Uneasy lies the crown

On the Stripéd King's head

Impassioned, He looks down

On His children who are dead.

He holds their little bodies

And shakes His weary head.

They say that they are sorry,

But they'd rather remain dead.

    The painful crown, the damning tree

    The river of blood, O that is me

    Below from above, down to me

    Death of Love: Life to me.

No! said the King

The Prophet and the Priest

No! said the King,

Not even the least!

Live! said the One

Hanged up in the tree:

Live, little ones, live and be free!

    The painful crown, the damning tree

    The river of blood, O that is me

    Below from above, down to me

    Death of Love: Life to me.

Now go! said the Dying One

And tell what you've found,

Then He stopped and breathed no more,

His blood poured out on the ground.

And as I turned, and wondered how,

I heard Him from above,

Just go! He said, Go

With the voice of the Dove.

    The painful crown, the damning tree

    The river of blood, O that is me

    Below from above, down to me

    Death of Love: Life to me.

Now I've told you.