(Recitation)
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Once in Persia reigned a king who upon his royal ring carved these words so true and wise
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Which when held before his eyes gave him counsel at a glance of his life of changing chance
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Solemn words and these are they: "Even this shall pass away"
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Trains of camels through the sand brought him gems from Samarkand
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Fleets of galleys through the sea brought him pearls to match with thee
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But he counted not his gain nor his treasure, mine or main
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"What is wealth ?", the king would say, "Even this shall pass away"
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In the revel of his court, at the zenith of his sport
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When the palms of all his guests burned with clapping at his zest
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He among his figs and wine would cry, "Oh, loving friends of mine
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Pleasures may come, but they cannot stay, like even this shall pass away ?"
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The most beautiful woman ever seen was the bride he chose his queen
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Pillowed on their royal bed, whispering to her soul he said:
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"Though a bridegroom never pressed dearer bosom to his chest
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But mortal flesh must come to clay and even these shall pass away"
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Towering over the village square, thirty meters in the air
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Rose his statue, carved in stone, as the king stood there alone
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Gazing at his sculptured name, said to himself, "So what is fame ?
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Fame, it's but slow decay, even this shall pass away"
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Fighting furiously on a battlefield, once a javelin pierced his shield
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Soldiers with a loud lament bore him bleeding to his tent
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Groaning from his tortured side, "Pain is hard to bear", he cried
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"Oh, but with patience day by day, even this shall pass away"
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Sick and sore with cancer; weak and tired and old, just minutes yet to go to pass the gates o' gold
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Spake he with his dying breath, "Life is done, so what is death ?"
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Then in answer to the king fell a sunbeam on his ring
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Reflecting words he failed to say: "Even this shall pass away"
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Pass Away
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Chuck Berry |