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When Kings Play Games

from No Signposts. by Anne Lister

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Inspired by a speech from Shakespeare's Henry V, and some wise words from Ursula K Le Guin.

lyrics

When kings play games, they play with different balls
When kings play games, they play with lives
And politicians play their juggling games
They toss up truth and catch just lies
When kings play games they always make the rules
When kings play games they play to win
And politicians, they’re dangerous meddling fools
And others clear up what they begin.

When mothers dream, they dream of growing things
When children dream, they dream of light
When lovers dream they dream of joining things
When poets dream they dream of night.

When kings play games there’s little laughter there
When kings play games they play for real
And politicians talk of strategy
Hide in their language, forget to feel
When kings play games they don’t play give but take
And politicians, they’re just the same
There’s no compassion, there’s no for fairness sake
‘Cos after all they’ll say it’s just a game.

When mothers speak they talk of reaching out
When children speak they talk of fun
When lovers speak they talk of gentleness
When poets speak we see the sun.

And now it’s time to play some different songs
And now it’s time to say what’s true
To know that there could be some clear rights and wrongs
When children learn, they learn from you.
We’ll leave the kings in their palaces
And politicians in their halls
And those of us who speak more loving languages
We’ll play a new game now, with different balls.

When mothers dream they dream of growing things
When children speak they talk of fun
When lovers dream they dream of joining things
When poets speak we see the sun.

credits

from No Signposts., released June 18, 2020
Bass - Tony Etherton. Whistles and percussion - Steafan Hannigan

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all rights reserved

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Anne Lister Wales, UK

Anne is best known for her song "Icarus", recorded and performed by a number of different singers, including Martin Simpson and Nic Jones. "Astrolabe" is her ninth solo album.

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