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