Song of the Nightwatch

"Three estates," say the priests, "ordained by God. The first one is endlessly tilling the sod The second entreats for our souls to the Lord And the third estate lives by the sword" And the third estate dies by the sword And we are the makers of war. We are the slayers of thousands. We shall be wounded for those who lie safe. We of the third estate.

The merchants live richly, all haughty and vain. They bargain for profit, our office disdain. They greed for their safety as great as for gold. No they would not live by the sword And they would not die by the sword Yet blows are the coins of war And we've come to bargain sternly We shall be wounded for those who ply trade. We of the third estate.

The villein he laboreth all day in the sun, Yet safely he sleeps when his day's work is done. He would not hazard his flesh to be torn No he would not live by the sword And he would not die by the sword. Yet swords are the scythes of war And we've come to reap a grim harvest We shall be wounded for reapers of grain. We of the third estate.

The bishops and priests warn us well of sin's perils; Of tournaments, feasting, temptations, and devils. They save their whole skins as well as their souls No they would not live by the sword And they would not die by the sword Yet screams are the prayers of war High mass shall be sung by our foemen We shall be wounded for those who pray. We of the third estate.

Tonight I keep watch while the rain chills my bones. I know weariness, hunger, am far from my home. But there is no company I could love more Than those men who would live by the sword And those men who would die by the sword For the wine of true living is war From its cup my fellows drink deeply We shall give battle like true men this day. We of the Third Estate.