He sang the power and glory down the hill at evenin

The rain, the river roarin, wild geese at their grievin

All the way to nashville town he strayed

The power and glory did not come to meet him



He worked the midnight diners, washed the weary dishes

Street poets and vision miners, starry-eyed ambitious

Blew like pilgrim leaves through the sad cafe

The bards and climbers tradin dreams and wishes



Once the famous aphrodite nightingale came callin

Her court, her keepers friday, foes and hopefuls crawlin

Poor, proud, aging queen, did her eyes betray

The high and mighty know they're only fallin



He came home as before, he had no one to sell to

Kids 'round him on the floor, he sings like silver bells do

When they ask of the world he will only say

The power and glory ain't all that they tell you