Twelve bright and blooming flowers
Unravelling the hours, stitching against time
Twelve fine caps, caps for golden crowns
To keep twelve downy heads from the scorching sun
Twelve sons rise to make their cradle cries
And the lullabies begin to soothe twelve tiny kings
Who kick their feet against the summer heat
Fighting the scorching sun
Twelve bright and blooming flowers
Unravelling the hours, stitching against time
Twelve fine caps, caps for golden crowns
To keep twelve downy heads from the scorching sun
Twelve sons rise to make their battle cries
And no caps or golden crowns
Can keep twelve downy heads from leaving their beds
And charging everyone into the scorching sun
Son I never thought when I brought you here
I'd fear the firing of your gun
That the life I had made
Would bring another to his grave
I never thought when I brought you here
That I'd witness your short span
A bright and blooming flower
The life of a man
Twelve lilies white as bone
Stitching banners welcome home
But the darkening hours
Don't bring home any flowers
Twelve hearts unstitched with grief
For time's a vicious thief
Time unravels, time is done
Twelve banners never hung in the scorching sun.