my mum took me to a parade
when i was six years old
i saw a man who wore a smile
and a cardboard crown of gold
my mother said the greatest king
always looked forlorn
the greatest king my mother said,
he wore a crown of thorns

my mum read me a story
'bout a princess and a pea
'bout how the princess's ass was softer
than mine must be
mother said the greatest prince
slept on a bed of straw,
born in a lowly stable
and he wore a crown of thorns
he wore a crown of thorns

i saw a man in uniform
up on a big fine horse
i thought he was soldier
though he was a cop of course
my mother said the greatest soldier's clothes
were tattered and torn
and he rode upon a donkey
and he wore a crown of thorns
he wore a crown of thorns

i saw a billboard by the road
said i would be reborn
had a picture of a skinny man
wearing a crown of thorns
i asked "ma is that him, the greatest king of all?
'cause if it is i do not like the look of him at all"
the greatest king my mother said,
he wore a crown of thorns

©2002 Mike West

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