Through the woodland, through the valley

Comes a horseman wild and free

Tilting at the windmills passing

Who can the brave young horseman be

He is wild but he is mellow

He is strong but he is weak

He is cruel but he is gentle

He is wise but he is meek



Reaching for his saddlebag

He takes a battered book into his hand

Standing like a prophet bold

He shouts across the ocean to the shore

Till he can shout no more



I have come o'er moor and mountain

Like the hawk upon the wing

I was once a shining knight

Who was the guardian of a king

I have searched the whole world over

Looking for a place to sleep

I have seen the strong survive

And I have seen the lean grown weak



See the children of the earth

Who wake to find the table bare

See the gentry in the country

Riding off to take the air



Reaching for his saddlebag

He takes a rusty sword into his hand

Then striking up a knightly pose

He shouts across the ocean to the shore

Till he can shout no more



See the jailor with his key

Who locks away all trace of sin

See the judge upon the bench

Who tries the case as best he can

See the wise and wicked ones

Who feed upon life's sacred fire

See the soldier with his gun

Who must be dead to be admired



See the man who tips the needle

See the man who buys and sells

See the man who puts the collar

On the ones who dare not tell

See the drunkard in the tavern

Stemming gold to make ends meet

See the youth in ghetto black

Condemned to life upon the street



Reaching for his saddlebag

He takes a tarnished cross into his hand

Then standing like a preacher now

He shouts across the ocean to the shore

Then in a blaze of tangled hooves

He gallops off across the dusty plain

In vain to search again

Where no one will hear



Through the woodland, through the valley

Comes a horseman wild and free

Tilting at the windmills passing

Who can the brave young horseman be

He is wild but he is mellow

He is strong but he is weak

He is cruel but he is gentle

He is wise but he is meek



sallysally@usa.net