The Duke and the Duchess

Now, gather 'round and sit right down
Let me sing my song
I'll tell you a little story
It won’t take very long
It happened far away from here
I don't know when it began
But it was back when there were kings and queens
And castles in the land

Now, there lived a duke and a duchess
In all they had no lack
From the food upon their tables
To the satin on their backs
They feasted friends at parties
Lived a life of ease
Sang and danced the time away
And did the things they pleased

But all around the castle walls
The people of the land
Were cryin' out in poverty
For just a helpin' hand
With rags around their shoulders
Rags around their feet
Askin' once before they died
Just to have enough to eat

The king he was a righteous man
And when he heard this news
He sent his servant to the duke
To warn him of the dues
Of disobeyin' the laws
He'd enacted for the poor
But the duke and duchess laughed at him
And threw him out the door

The king he rose in anger
He armed his troops for war
He laid siege to their castle
And battered down the door
He killed the ones who resisted him
And the rest were left to stand
Or fall upon the mercy
Of the people of the land

From Miami to Seattle
Everyone can eat his fill
From L.A. up to Boston
They’re dressin' fit to kill
The walls are made of money now
And armies guard the door
And e still ignore the warnings
While we grab for more and more

And all around the castle walls
The starving millions stand
They cry out for a piece of bread
And die with empty hands
While the people at the party
Keep pretending no one's there
But high above the King of Kings
Hears every little prayer

His judgement hasn't fallen yet
But there's not a day to spare
The storm's already gathering
The tension's in the air
There's no time for excuses
Barely time to turn around
And beg the Lord's forgiveness
With our knees upon the ground

And now my story's over
The time for deeds is here
We can serve the Lord for love
Or we can serve the Lord for fear
But refusin' his command
Is not a choice we ought to bear
While the people Jesus died to save
Die when we don't care