The Lampolier

There was a poor old Lampolier Who'd corner any man drawn near Solicit, grinning ear to ear, his time "Dear Citizen, entrepreneur "Bourgeoisie or raconteur "Permit me the chance to fill your mind "With my travelled, torrid tale "No broken hearts or angels ailing "In some foreign castle in decline "If you'll sit a minute please "I'll tell you how your own two knees "Can carry you to hold the brightest light "Ever to shine" Now most men over five and twenty'd Long since learned to make their money Pouring iron or pressing fact'ry stamp But me, I'd gone by many names I'd brought my parents aught but shame Dishonorably they'd cast me out a tramp "Sit, I'll tell you crystal clear" To me said the Lampolier Cold, glazed piercing eyes once red and damp "Days a'walk from this cold city "Hides a cave, old, dark, & gritty "And inside's the light that outshines anything "I've ever burned inside my lamp" The Lampolier Tell my mother it was the Lampolier "Three days out Route 49 "You'll find a town in deep decline "Left abandoned by all but the fools "Then go up walking in the hills "Wander where the light it wills "But don't you trouble rations, maps or tools" I had to stop the Lampolier "Mister you've not made it clear "Exactly the value of the light" "Young man," said the old lampmaker "Love your God and don't forsake Her "But this light's the very holy source that gives Your soul its life" The Lampolier Tell my mother it was the Lampolier If you find my body here Carry it into the sun Well I obeyed the man's directions Brought no map but found the sections Perfectly the Lampolier'd described I crawled headfirst in that hole Lost my grip and cracked my skull And in the waning moment before I died I recognized a well-dressed stranger Eyes ablaze, I'd played his game to Watch him stoke his cold and glorious fire He held a shiny lamp towards me And rather than my soul set free Now I make his flame burn all the brighter The Lampolier Tell my mother it was the Lampolier If you find my body here Carry it into the sun Now children do not fear the dark You've no idea who lit the spark That you believes keeps demons far at bay Late at night when lamps are burning Next to you he could be lurking The Lampolier could always use more prey