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