Lyr Req: When Princes Meet (Tom Paxton)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Princes Meet (Tom Paxton)
From: rich-joy
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 01:45 AM

My late Beloved (Paul Lawler), used to LOVE singing this powerful song (learnt from the Tom Reid recording ~ thanks Stewie!)
Cheers,
R-J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Princes Meet (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 01:41 AM

I just wanted to reply to this saying this post was made when I was 3 years old and now I am in college and this helped me. Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Kings Make War
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 11:37 AM

I thought I posted a "thank you" to your responses, but I must have failed to hit "submit." Anyway, I have sent the text to the fellow book person, and I am grateful for your help. I knew I could count on a quick and helpful reply.

Don't know how I missed that Paxton song. Thought I heard them all back in those good old days.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Kings Make War
From: Frug
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 09:39 AM

Ah now it makes some sense!

United Artists Music Ltd. Tom Paxton Song Book has a lot to answer for.................sorry Tom!

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN PRINCES MEET (Tom Paxton)
From: raredance
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 09:32 AM

WHEN PRINCES MEET
(Tom Paxton, 1973 United Artists Music)

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 lords' swords to bite them.
The sons of 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.

Drive your cattle to 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.

Not so much a problem with Tom as with the transcriber. He should have just copied them from the album jacket.

from Tom Paxton "New songs For Old Friends" (1973, Warner Brothers REcords MS 2144)

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Kings Make War
From: Frug
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 09:05 AM

I think the song you're after is When Princes Meet by Tom Paxton. Here are the words from an old songbook.....some of them don't add up for me maybe Tom was on something at the time.

When princes meet the poor little men must tremble. In judgement seat they speak of their wars while great armies assemble. Their armour shines to shame the sun. They make like gods they do resemble. About them next to iron feat, when princes meet.

When castles rise the poor little men must build them. To charm the skies they throw up their turrets where the great lords will them. They dig the dungeons from the earth. And their wives and children fill them. Although the low cast down their eyes when princes meet.

When kings make war the poor little men must fight them. They must do more they hold out their necks for the great war swords to bite them. The sons of lords cleave through their ranks in the hope some warrior king might knight them. It's what the poor little men are for when kings make war.

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 them that are lost. tis no small thing to serve the king.

You're cattle to the lord is making your way hide your women they're coming to make you pay. Hide litle man poor little man think of a prayer to say. Hide if you can poor litle man think of a prayer to say.

Subject: When Kings Make War
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 12:55 AM

This question was asked on one of the "used book dealers" lists to which I subscribe. I can't answer it, but figured many of you 'Catters could. I'll forward your replies.

Sandy

"For the past hour or two it's been driving me crazy. I remember the song from about thirty-five years ago and I can only give you bits and pieces of it. Perhaps with that someone would remember the title...

When kings make war,
the poor little men must fight them
They must do more???
hold out their necks while swords must bite them

When castles rise
the poor little men must build them
To storm the skies....
????put into the dungeons

Chorus
God save the king ?????
It's no small thing to serve a king.

That's all I can come up with. Any help? From anyone?

Best regards, Art