The Empty Pot (Hybrid: Supertramp/Traditional Folk)

(Verse 1) By the river in the morning light A young boy carried hope The emperor gave a tiny seed And said, “Help this flower grow” Ping took water from the mountain stream Placed the pot beside the sun But the soil stayed dark and silent Though the days kept moving on (Chorus) Ohhhh, empty pot of mine Why do you bloom for no one? The spring winds sing through bamboo trees Yet my lonely flower won’t come Still I carry you with honor Though the whole world laughs at me For the heart that speaks with honesty Grows the strongest seed (Verse 2) Children came with gold and roses Flowers bright as painted skies Ping walked slowly through the palace With tears shining in his eyes The emperor looked across the hall At every perfect vine Then he smiled beside the empty pot And said, “This child speaks truth, not lies.” (Chorus) Ohhhh, empty pot of mine You were never empty at all For courage grew where flowers could not Inside the heart so small Now the bells ring through the valley And the lanterns softly gleam For the boy who carried nothing Became the emperor’s dream (Bridge) The seed was boiled before the planting No life could rise from earth But one child chose the path of truth And showed the kingdom worth (Final Chorus) Ohhhh, empty pot of mine The moon shines silver tonight No jade or gold could ever glow Like one small honest life So carry truth like water Let kindness be your song For the flower that never blossomed Was the one that made him strong