When we were sailors we had four songs One for the girls in the harbor towns Two for the weather, three for the nightwatch Four for the rum that washed it all down You can't change the wind, only change the sail After the singing we would sail on When we were soldiers we had four dreams One for the flashing bombs and terrified scenes Two for the stretchers, three for the marches Four for our sweethearts where our homes had been Some of us made it home, some went down alone After the dreaming we would fight on When we were magicians we had four fires One for the transforming of desire Two for the cleansing, three for the healing Four for petitioning the heavenly choir We made rings of stone to be remembered long After the fires had cooled down When we were children we had four cups One for the songs our parents taught us Two for the wishes, three for the marbles Four for the seasons that came on us Through field and street, we played hide and seek After the childhood we would play on When we were outlaws we had four kings One who wore his hair down in golden rings Two who went to war, three who were murdered, Four who claimed to rule over everything And though they banned the green, they could not seed the queen After the kingdown we were free men When we were troubadors we had four songs One for the legends we were handed down Two for the heroes, three for the dancers, Four for the stories we passed on We walked together a time, down these roads of rhyme After the singing we would move on