Lyrics I'd been looking for

[valarltd]

Finally found them.

Ballad of King Christian X.
(c) Peter Beagle

Arthur, Alfred, and Barbarossa
Rode to war with their singing men.
And good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Rode in the park and rode home again.

Richard, Connor, El Cid Rodrigo
Burned great cities beneath the stars.
And good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Gave out prizes at church bazaars.

Sargon, Offa, and Charlemagne
Waded in history to their lips.
And good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Signed his papers and christened ships.

Chaka, Cyrus, and Chandragupta
Would have fought when the Germans came.
And good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Told his people to swallow the shame.

James, and Carlo, and poor Alphonso
Fled the lands when they lost the throne.
And good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Rode through his city each day, alone.

Hitler, Himmler, Goering, and Goebbels
Decreed yellow stars for the Danish Jews.
And good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Said no word when he heard the news.

Friends and strangers, may heaven spare us
From ever learning what souls we are.
But good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Rode next day with a yellow star.

"For as you do to the least of my people,
However weak or alone they be,"
Said good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
"So you do it unto me."

Arthur, Alfred, and Barbarossa
Made some sorrow and some to sing.
But good King Christian--the old king of Denmark--
Knew what mattered in being king.

Comments

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Hi. It might be Otho.
Not sure who transcribed it. I haven't heard it sung in over a decade, but it's been haunting me.

I don't know if Beagle was paraphrasing. Glad to be of help.