Ballad of a Minstrel

The minstrel he is singing his songs
of love and songs of peace.
The words that he is bringing
hide what smothers underneath.

The minstrel he is singing:
it's so very wrong to hate.
The words that he is bringing
can change murder into fate.

Don't ask him where he was last night
for he will have to say
he killed his brother in a fight,
but that was yesterday.

The minstrel he is singing
love a little, love some more.
The words that he is bringing
appear stranger than before.

The minstrel he is singing,
trying vainly to unwind
the words that he is bringing
symbols of a troubled mind.

Don't ask me why why of love he sings,
he'll be the one to say
he can't be bothered with the things
that happen yesterday.