Cook's Song

He saw with perfect clarity
He would spit on the cursed hour of his birth
And say that all was vanity
How deep and wise was Solomon
And see before the night descends
He longed to taste oblivion
He started wise but as a fool he ends
Oh wisdom’s fine, we’re glad we’ve none
Then Julius Caesar, mighty one, raised high his royal rod
So brave he tore the world apart
So they voted and changed their Caesar to a God
And drove a dagger through his heart
How loud he screamed, «You too, my son»
And see before the night descends
His reign had only just begun
So brave, but screaming out in fear he ends
Brave hearts are grand, thank God we’ve none
Saint Martin sang his benison, his pity flowereth
He met a man lost in the snows
The wretched man was freezing so the Saint gave him his clothes
Of course the two men froze to death
The pearly gates no doubt he won
And see before the night descends
So kind beyond comparison
Warm-hearted but beneath the ice he ends
Oh pity’s great, thank God we’ve none
At last our final yarn’s been spun we ask you gentle souls
What use our loving heaven’s been?
In your kitchens you’re all safe and soft within
We stand without with empty bowls
God’s love has left us here undone
And see before the night descends
The meek are always overrun
And virtue leads us to our wretched ends
Folks do better, who have none