Troll Bridge

[bnewman]

lyrics by Benjamin Newman, based on a concept by Michael Noda

ttto: "Troll Hall" by Leslie Fish

listen to this song

/ Am - Em Am / - - Dm - / Am - Dm F / Am Em Am - /

 

I was sent by the king to inspect all his roads

'Til I came to a gorge where a swift river flowed

Straight across stretched a bridge, with a sign on a pole:

"Price to cross, one tin piece, pay the troll."

 

I cried out to the canyon, "What gives you the right?

For this bridge is the king's, it was built by his might,

And the cost of its building was paid from his gold!"

From the depths stepped the troll, and said, "Hold!"

 

"Of the roads that remain in these forsaken lands,

Few were built by the king, or his men, or their hands;

Do his masons repair?  Do his armies patrol?

Who maintains what remains?  Just a troll."

 

My commission said not how to judge such a case,

And I dared not judge wrong, and I dared not lose face,

So I sent to the king, and he sent back this scroll,

Which proclaims, in his name: "Good sir troll,

 

You have served your king well, and your claim he'll respect,

After taking his tithe of the toll you collect;

For he wills that his bridges be kept in repair."

The troll bowed, laughed out loud, and said, "Fair."

 

Now once more that far fief is a dwelling of men —

Since the roads were restored, there is commerce again —

And the king's own bridge-keeper is sure in his role:

"Royal bridge, one tin piece, pay the troll!"