Kingdom of Childhood

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