Kingdom Of Childhood

(Words and Music by Joan Baez) The ship that sails the seven seas Has finally brought me to my knees It's not much to my liking The people standing on the rock Are innocent and they know not That the tide comes in Death rides it like a Viking The mountains rise above the mist And the golden prince I've never kissed He may die tonight And why do I want to ride with The prince whose alleged horse is white? Because when we ride together Our lives are cloaked forever Happiness is temporary Believe me, I know It can arrive as a shining crystal And leave as the melting snow Come all you lads and lasses The Kingdom of Childhood passes Oh, but I am hardy in these years Or I'd have sunk down with my tears To the earth beneath my feet I want to endure the slings and arrows That Hamlet spoke about But harrowed, He was forced to a ragged defeat There was a method to his madness But overcome by pride and sadness He did not endure Surely his death was a grave mistake How many deaths do we really calculate? Isn't it true, Lord Tragedies happen when you're bored? Happiness is temporary Believe me, I know It can arrive as a shining crystal And leave as the melting snow Come all you lads and lasses The Kingdom of Childhood passes You archangels, you have some nerve To watch all of this you are absurd You even have a choice Do you know all? I think you may And what is there for you to say But understand Why God took back your voice SIlence is golden, I believe And you are worth your weight In wreaths of purest gold While we are here with debts and bets And aircraft carriers and jets I call out fruitlessly Give me an archangel for company Happiness is temporary Believe me, I know It can arrive as a shining crystal And leave as the melting snow Come all you lads and lasses The Kingdom of Childhood passes Me in the woods at the break of dawn The candles of the night still on The chimes ring from the hollow I too am worth my weight in gold But the fishmonger and I are old When the mint runs out Our real lives will follow It was misfortune who woke you up To pour you the dregs from her broken cup Cast her aside The sunrise will appear with the mockingbird Who stays deep in the canyon and is heard Glorious in his song He cannot be wrong Happiness is temporary Believe me, I know It can arrive as a shining crystal And leave as the melting snow Come all you lads and lasses The Kingdom of Childhood passes There's another one just beyond Act quickly before it's gone ??????© 1976, 1977 Gabriel Earl Music (ASCAP)