all you great men of power you who boast of your feats politicians and entrepreneurs can you safeguard your breath in the night while you sleep keep your heart beating steady and sure as you lie in your bed does the thought haunt your head that you re really rather small if there s one thing i know in this life we are beggars all all you champions of science and rulers of men can you summon the sun from its sleep does the earth seek your counsel on how fast to spin can you shut up the gates of the deep don t you know that all things hang as if by a string over darkness poised to fall if there s one thing i know in this life we are beggars all all you big shots that swagger and stride with conceit did you devise how your frame would be formed if you d be raised in a palace or left out on the streets or choose the place or the hour you d be born tell me what can you claim not a thing not your name tell me if you can recall just one thing not a gift in this life can you hear what s been said can you see now that everything s grace after all if there s one thing i know in this life we are beggars all