The first time that I heard them coming by
there was a sound like thunder from the sky
and mama said "don't run and hide"
it's not the thunder but the men who ride
the king's horses

the men sat off outside our little inn
the commendant got sight of me and grinned
he said while mama's eyes went wide
tonight we'll take your daddy out to ride
the king's horses

for a king is a king and a peasant is a peasant
and the laws are always made for the king
and the king's men are payed and they do what he tells them to do
so when they were all finished my father was dead
and I began to hate the men who rode
the king's horses

I swore that someday they would bleed
the same way that my father did
the way to satisfy my soul
could only be to kill the men who rode
the king's horses

the time went by and I went big and strong
I still remember those who did me wrong
I practiced hard with hands and feet
still dreaming of the day when I will meet
the king's horses

but the king is the king and a man is a man
when you're poor you're not hard to pursuade
and the king had the money, and I had the hunger and strength
and he saw I was strong and he bought me
and I forgot my holy oath and rode among
the king's horses

and so with pain I had to hide
the crying voice I heard inside
the only way I could survive
was to become one of the men who ride
the king's horses

I've often thought that it is very strange
the power and the money make you change
today I kill and rape and fight
together with the ruthless men who ride
the king's horses