Robbers Three
Copyright 2005 by Jeff Suzuki
Me, get into a rut? Not at all! Yes, I wrote three “political” songs in three weeks. Yes, four of the last five songs I wrote have something to do with failures of government or those in power. But I can do other types of songs. Really.
Before I wrote the “politicals” I wrote down an idea in my notebook for doing a song based on one of Chaucer's tales. I knew the basic story, but reread it, and set it aside for a while. To be perfectly honest, I knew the story, but hadn't realized it was Chaucer until I happened to be skimming a version of the Canterbury Tales...
On the subway on my way into work, I had an inspiration for the first line. I wrote most of the rest of it on the train, and polished it on the way home. Total time spent: maybe 1 hour. A quick listen to the music caused me to revise some of the verses, but the end result is what you see here.
The music is Heart's Ease.
When robbers three sought to win fame, they vowed they would take down The greatest thief who ever lived and so they looked around. For Death himself, who steals away all that we have and more, No man can keep his treasures safe when Death comes to the door. A wise old man said "If you want to find Death's hiding place, He's on the hill, beneath that tree if you dare show your face." The robbers three went to the tree to break Death's icy hold, Instead they found beneath the tree a great box full of gold. They dug it up and danced about and great was their delight, Until one said "We'd best not take this treasure home 'til night." And so they sent the youngest to the town so he could get Some wine and bread to keep them hale until the sun had set. When past their sight, the youngest said "The treasure can be mine, If my two friends should take a sip of some rat poisoned wine." Back on the hill the other two said "Let us kill the boy, His share we'll split amongst ourselves and each more gold enjoy." So when the youth came to the tree his friends did stab him dead, They drank the wine to celebrate and followed him in stead.