Lyrics: The Sky Road

The Beggar & The Thief (Written in 1969)

A beggar, clad in loincloth
Stood outside the temple gate
A simple man, some shepherd from the hills - 
He'd lost his sheep.
Upon his knees he fell 
As the scribes and priests passed by,
His eyes a well of sorrow deep and fast
And as he knelt,
His thoughts returned to wander
Down a bridgeway to the past
And in a trance, his ark of dreams set sail.
 
"King of the hills with my Queen by my side
She was fair as a pearl, her beauty so wild and free,
Those tears just shed for me are now dry
For she is gone."
 
Awaking from his vision
Bright splendour burnt his eyes.
A Princess in a golden coach went by - 
He knew that face.
And as he gazed in wonder,
He saw the Prince reach out
And taste the ruby beauty of her lips - 
The wine of life.
The beggar, blind with madness,
Cried a name for all to hear
And in the silence of her gaze he spoke...
 
"King of the hills with my Queen by my side
She was fair as a pearl, her beauty so wild and free,
Those tears just shed for me are now dry
For she is gone."
 
"Poor Fool", soft came the answer
"What is past is but a dream,
The snows must pass that
Spring may be revealed"
Then he replied...
"I believe the past was real
And I live my life by this
That love once shared now
Cannot be denied - though fade it may.
If I could reach you now
What treasures would you bring?
Would they change me from
A Beggar to a King? - if this could be - 
Let all the world be beggars
Begging love from marble Queens,
Not those who steal
The soul of love then flee - 
For these are Thieves."

Lyrics written by Anthony Phillips
© Budde Music UK.  Reproduced by permission.

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