The Troubadour

The Troubadour
by Michael Mark & Tom Chapin
© 1996 HCD Music & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)

Once upon a time there came a wand’ring man
With tales of wonder in his head
And music in his hand.
Across the fields of France, he’d travel and explore,
This minstrel poet called himself a Troubadour.
With a lute and a flute and a zither and a harp
And I’m up and I’m on my way.
I’ll sing you the news or whatever you choose
For a meal and a place to stay.
And a hey nonny nonny dum day.

In ev’ry town and farm
It was work and work some more,
So what a thrill when down the hill
Came the Troubadour.
With a jangle and a strum
He’d fill the village square,
And change it right before their eyes
Into a county fair.
With a lute and a flute and a zither and a harp
And I’m up and I’m on my way.
I’ll sing you the news or whatever you choose
For a meal and a place to stay.
And a hey nonny nonny dum day.

He told them the tale
Of the sword called Excalibur,
Rooted in legend, imbedded in stone.
And Arthur the Valiant who drew out Excalibur,
Claiming its glory and taking the throne.

“Come listen I’ll sing you of beautiful Helen,
Whose face was so lovely she started a war
And Eleanor Aquitaine, daughter of William,
Who married two kings
And gave birth to two more.”

They danced to the music, they listened,
They laughed as the day dwindled down
To a whisper of light.
Like food for the winter
They gathered his stories
And sang with the Troubadour
All through the night.

Next morning he was up before the breakfast bell
To drink a cup and pack it up
And bid a fond farewell.
He stepped out on the road,
A wanderer once more,
And off into the morning went the Troubadour.
With a lute and a flute and a zither and a harp
And I’m up and I’m on my way.
I’ll sing you the news or whatever you choose
For a meal and a place to stay.
And a hey nonny nonny dum day.
And a hey nonny nonny dum day.

This song appears on Tom Chapin's Zag Zig CD.

Return to Home Page

Send comments to info@tomchapin.com