Cold Iron - words by Rudyard Kipling, arrangement by Leslie Fish

Gold is for the mistress, Silver for the maid,
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade,
"Good!" cried the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron, Cold Iron, is master of them all."

So he made rebellion, against the King his liege,
Camped outside his citadel and summoned it to siege,
"Nay!" cried the cannoneer on the castle wall,
"For Iron, Cold Iron, shall be master of you all."

Woe to the Baron, and his knights so strong,
When the cruel cannonballs laid them all along,
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,
And Iron, Cold Iron was master over all.

But his King spake kindly, ah, how kind a lord,
"What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?"
"Nay!" cried the Baron, "mock not at my fall,
For Iron, Cold Iron, is master of men all."

"Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown,
Halters for a silly neck that cannot keep a crown,
As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small,
For Iron, Cold Iron, must be master over all."

Yet his King made answer, few such kings there be,
"Here is bread and here is wine now sit and sup with me.
Eat and drink in Mary's name while I do recall,
How Iron, Cold Iron can be master of men all."

He poured the wine and blessed it, he blessed and broke the bread,
With his own hands he served them and presently he said,
"See these hands they pierced with nails outside my city wall,
Show Iron, Cold Iron to be master of men all.

Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong,
Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong,
I forgive thy treason, I redeem thy fall,
And Iron, Cold Iron is still master over all.

Crowns are for the valiant, sceptres for the bold,
Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold."
"Nay" cried the Baron, kneeling in his hall,
"For Iron, Cold Iron is still master of men all."