When Princes Meet - Anne Hills, Tom Paxton

When princes meet

The poor little men must tremble

In judgment seat

They speak of their wars

While great armies assemble

Their armor shines

To shame the sun

They move like gods

They do resemble

All bow their necks

To iron feet when princes meet

When castles rise

The poor little men must build them

To charm the skies

They throw up the turrets

Where the great lords will them

They dig the dungeons

From the earth

And their brothers

Wives and children fill them

All those below cast down

Their eyes when castles rise

God save the king

For he grants us leave to serve him

His praises sing

And grant that we may deserve him

Who counts the cost?

The cattle and men to be lost?

'Tis no small thing to serve a king

When kings make war

The poor little men must fight them

They must do more

They hold out their necks

For great lord’s swords to bite them

The sons of the lords cleave

Through their ranks

In the hopes some warrior king

Might knight them

It’s what the poor little men are for

When kings make war

Hide your cattle in the woods, Francois

The lord is looking your way

Hide your women and your goods, Francois

They’re coming around to make you pay

Hide if you can, poor little man

Think of a prayer to say

Hide if you can, poor little man

Think of a prayer to say

God save the king

For he grants us leave to serve him

His praises sing

And grant that we may deserve him

Who counts the cost?

The cattle and men to be lost?

'Tis no small thing to serve a king