You can't dance a waltz that ends in 4/4 time
You can't dance a waltz that ends in 4/4 time
We are the minstrels who sing for the king
From early in the morning till late in the evening
The days are long, the king he is cruel
And for twenty years now we've been under his rule
Now all that's left after years of abuse
Is seven musicians with nothing to lose
But all his wrong-doing we shall avenge
Cause tonight's the night that we will have our revenge
Oh, Let it be said
That today the King's daughter will wed
And tomorrow we'll all be dead
'Cause after tonight the kind will have our heads
Now the moon shines bright in the east
And in the great hall is the great wedding feast
Where the great wedding dance is underway
And with a sign from the king the band
Begins to play
Poor old man, you look so confused
And then you look at the bands and we look amused
Are you ahead or are we behind?
You can't dance a waltz that ends in 4/4 time
Oh, bitter ridicule
The old man looked like a fool
And we shall no longer bow down at his footstool
And no more shall we obey his rule
Now our songs can no longer be heard
But above our graves rests our final words
"Yes you can reason and yes you can rhyme
But you can't dance a waltz that ends in 4/4 time"