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