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 and once the famous aphrodite nightingale came callin her court her keepers friday foes and hopefuls crawlin poor proud agin queen did her eyes betray the high and mighty know they re only falling he came home as before he had no one to sell to kids round him on the floor they 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