INTRO ENSEMBLE “Gold pours like water… but the wells run dry…” “What good is a kingdom… when the price too high?” “Coins in the streets… but the bread won’t rise…” “What good is a ruler… when the markets die?” VERSE 1 Musa rode out—desert wide Bags too heavy—pride too high Gold like rain—hands held tight But what’s a gift—when the price ain’t right? Timbuktu’s finest—Cairo too Sultans smiled—but the streets turned blue Markets shakin’—merchants cry Gold too cheap—now the trade gon’ die ENSEMBLE “Gave ‘em gold… but the price too low…” VERSE 2 Silk Road silent—ships don’t sail Silver drowned—in a golden tale Salt don’t move—wheat don’t grow Gave too much—now the cost won’t hold Letters sent—rulers tight Blame the king—with the golden might Did he give?—Did he take? Or did he drown ‘em all—for his kingdom’s sake? ENSEMBLE “Gold pours like water… but the wells run dry…” PRE-CHORUS Gold ain’t wealth—wealth is grain Wealth is people—without chains Gold ain’t food—gold ain’t land Gold ain’t power—when it slips through hands CHORUS (ENSEMBLE BIG, CALL AND RESPONSE) “Gold pours like water—” “But the wells run dry—” “What good is a kingdom—” “When the price too high?—” “Coins in the streets—” “But the bread won’t rise—” “What good is a ruler—” “When the markets die?—” VERSE 3 Walk through Cairo—streets stand still Gold in the hands—but no more mills Traders whisper—eyes look low A king too rich—but the seeds won’t grow What is left—when the shine goes black? When the gold you gave—ain’t worth jack? Call me wise—call me bold But I ain’t never seen a throne— Built on gold ENSEMBLE “Coins in the streets… but the bread won’t rise…” BRIDGE Money won’t last—stories do Musa, Musa—what you prove? Gave ‘em gold—gave ‘em light But can’t give back—the years they fight Power ain’t coins—power ain’t kings Power ain’t found—in material things Power is hands—that build and sow Power is knowing— When to let go CHORUS (BIGGER, DARKER, FINAL BLOW) “Gold pours like water—” “But the wells run dry—” “What good is a kingdom—” “When the price too high?—” “Coins in the streets—” “But the bread won’t rise—” “What good is a ruler—” “When the markets die?—” OUTRO “Whispers in the alleys—shadows in the streets…” “Money in the air—but the people can’t eat…”
