THE KNIGHT OF SMALL RENOWN
(Robert Schmertz)

He was a Knight of small renown,
Who journeyed to the wars,
It was eventide as he rode along,
And he sang beneath the stars;
He sang a very merry thing,
He sang with right good cheer,
He sang of fighting, fame and love,
His steed lent charm’ed ear (he did),
His steed lent charm’ed ear.
Sing, “Fa la la, fa la la, fa la lah”,
His steed lent charm-ed ear.

The warbling Knight on list’ning steed,
Made leisurely advance,
The moon caressed his armour-plate,
And shimmered on his lance;
A maiden in an oriel,
Did hear the roundelay -
Looked down upon the warbling Knight,
And loved him straight away (he did),
She loved him straight away.
Oh, fa la la, fa la la, fa la lah -
She loved him straight away.

The Knight looked up, the moon shone pale,
Upon the lady’s face,
“Odds wounds!” cried he, “The wars can wait!”
The wise steed slacked his pace;
A wooing and a quick escape,
And then the nuptial knot,
And thus the Knight did meet his fate,
Much sooner than he thought (he did),
Much sooner than he thought.
Oh, fa la la, fa la la, fa la lah -
Much sooner than he thought.

And so the twain did settle down,
And it was fair to see,
The castle filled with little knights,
And ladies soon to be -
The moon-touched lance lay cob-web-wove,
The armour rusted quite,
The steed became a carry-all,
For every little knight (he did),
For every little knight.
Oh, fa la la, fa la la, fa la lah -
For every little knight.

And lo, the maid grew matronly,
And oh, the Knight grew stout,
And Autumn winds brought creaking joints,
And twinges of the gout.
Alas, poor Knight of small renown!
But when he saw the stars,
He softly sang, and in his dreams
He journeyed to the wars (he did)
He journeyed to the wars.
Oh, fa la la, fa la la, fa la lah -
He journeyed to the wars.