Anybody seen a knight pass this way I saw him playing chess with Death yesterday His crusade was a search for God and they say It's been a along way to carry on
Anybody hear of plague in this town The town I've left behind was burned to the ground A young girl on a stake her face framed in flames cried I'm not a witch God knows my name
The knight he watched with fear He needed to know He ran where he might feel God's breath And in the misty church He knelt to confess The face within the booth was Mr. Death
My life's a vain pursuit of meaningless smiles Why can't God touch me with a sign Perhaps there's no one there answered the booth And Death hid within his cloak and smiled
This morning I played chess with Death said the knight We played that he might grant me time My bishop and my knight will shatter his flanks And still I might feel God's heart in mine
And through confession's grille Death's laughter was heard The knight cried No you've cheated me! But still I'll find a way We'll meet once again and once again Continue to play
They met within the woods the knight his squire and friends And Death said now the game shall end The final move was made The knight hung his head And said you've won I've nothing left to play
The minstrel filled with visions sang to his love To look against the stormy sky The knight his squire and friends Their hands held as one Solemnly danced toward the dawn
His hourglass in his hand his scythe by his side The master Death he leads them on The rain will wash away the tears from their faces And as the thunder cracked they were gone