Robert Plant - Even This Shall Pass Away lyrics

rate me

Once in Persia reigned a king

Who upon his signet ring

Graved a maxim true and wise

Which if held before his eyes

Gave him counsel at a glance

Fit for every change and chance

Solemn words, and these are they

"Even this shall pass away"

Trains of camels through the sand

Brought him gems from Samarcand

Fleets of galleys through the seas

Brought him pearls to match with these

But he counted not his gain

Treasures of the mine or main

"What is wealth?" The king would say

"Even this shall pass away"

'Mid the revels of his court

At the zenith of his sport

When the palms of all his guests

Burned with clapping at his jests

He, amid his figs and wine

Cried, "Oh, loving friends of mine

Pleasures come but not to stay

Even this shall pass away"

Lady, fairest ever seen

Was the bride he crowned his queen

Pillowed on his marriage bed

Softly to his soul he said

"Though no bridegroom ever pressed

Fairer bosom to his breast

Mortal flesh must come to clay

Even this shall pass away"

Fighting on a furious field

Once a javelin pierced his shield

Soldiers, with a loud lament

Bore him bleeding to his tent

Groaning from his tortured side

"Pain is hard to bear," he cried

"But with patience, day by day

Even this shall pass away"

Towering in the public square

Twenty cubits in the air

Rose his statue, carved in stone

Then the king, disguised, unknown

Stood before his sculptured name

Musing meekly, "What is fame?

Fame is but a slow decay

Even this shall pass away"

Struck with palsy, sore and old

Waiting at the Gates of Gold

Said he with his dying breath

"Life is done, but what is death?"

Then, in answer to the king

Fell a sunbeam on his ring

Showing by a heavenly ray

Even this shall pass away