After The Singing Songtext
von Rod MacDonald

When we were sailors we had four songs
One for the girls in the harbor towns
Two for the weather, three for the nightwatch
Four for the rum that washed it all down
You can't change the wind, only change the sail
After the singing we would sail on

When we were soldiers we had four dreams
One for the flashing bombs and terrified scenes
Two for the stretchers, three for the marches
Four for our sweethearts where our homes had been
Some of us made it home, some went down alone
After the dreaming we would fight on


When we were magicians we had four fires
One for the transforming of desire
Two for the cleansing, three for the healing
Four for petitioning the heavenly choir
We made rings of stone to be remembered long
After the fires had cooled down

When we were children we had four cups
One for the songs our parents taught us
Two for the wishes, three for the marbles
Four for the seasons that came on us
Through field and street, we played hide and seek
After the childhood we would play on

When we were outlaws we had four kings
One who wore his hair down in golden rings
Two who went to war, three who were murdered,
Four who claimed to rule over everything
And though they banned the green, they could not seed the queen
After the kingdown we were free men


When we were troubadors we had four songs
One for the legends we were handed down
Two for the heroes, three for the dancers,
Four for the stories we passed on
We walked together a time, down these roads of rhyme
After the singing we would move on