Even This Shall Pass Away
Impermanence's Wisdom: Even This Shall Pass Away
Lyrics
Once in Persia reigned a king
Introduction to the story of a king in Persia.
Who upon his regal ring
The king engraved a wise caption on his regal ring.
Etched a caption true and wise,
The caption is true and wise.
Which, if held before his eyes,
If he looked at the ring, it offered counsel instantly.
Gave him counsel at a glance
The advice was suitable for any situation.
Fit for every change and chance.
Appropriate guidance for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they,
Solemn words expressing the essence: "Even this shall pass away."
"Even this shall pass away."
Reiteration of the central theme.
Trains of camels through the sand
Camels bring gems from Samarcand to the king.
Brought him gems from Samarcand,
Riches and treasures are brought through the seas.
Fleets of galleys through the seas
The king remains indifferent to his material gain.
Brought him pearls to rival these,
Wealth is questioned by the king.
But he counted not his gain
The king's philosophy: "Even this shall pass away."
Treasures of the mine or main,
Repetition of the transient nature of possessions.
"What is wealth?" the king would say,
The king contemplates the impermanence of wealth.
"Even this shall pass away."
Reiteration of the key message.
In the revels of his court,
The king's revels in court are described.
At the zenith of his sport,
The height of the king's enjoyment is highlighted.
When the palms of all his guests
The audience applauds the king's jests.
Burned with clapping at his jests,
The transient nature of pleasure is acknowledged.
Amid his figs and wine,
Amidst joy, the king reminds friends of life's fleeting pleasures.
He cried, "O loving friends of mine,
Expressing love to friends, he acknowledges the impermanence of joy.
Pleasures come, but not to stay,
The temporary nature of pleasures is emphasized.
Even this shall pass away."
Repetition of the theme: "Even this shall pass away."
Towering up above the square,
A statue of the king rises high in the square.
Way up high into the air,
The grandeur of the statue is emphasized.
Rose his statue, carved in stone.
The king's identity is hidden in the sculpture.
All disguised, all unknown,
The king ponders the concept of fame.
Gazing at his sculptured name,
The king questions the meaning of his own name in fame.
Asked to himself, "What is fame?
Fame is perceived as a gradual decline.
Fame is but a slow decay,
The transient nature of fame is acknowledged.
And even this shall pass away."
Reiteration: "Even this shall pass away."
Sick and tired and fading,
The king is described as sick and fading.
Thinish, beat and old,
The king is aged, weak, and near the Gates of Gold (possibly symbolizing afterlife).
Stood a mile outside the Gates of Gold,
A moment of existential questioning by the king.
Speaking with his dying breath,
The king contemplates the meaning of life and death.
"Life is done, so what is Death?"
A sunbeam falls on the king's ring as he questions death.
Then, in answer to the king,
The king receives an answer through the sunbeam.
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
The fading king witnesses a blinding light on his ring.
Blinding light through fading grey
Revelation that even the fading moment shall pass away.
"'Cause even this shall pass away.
Repetition for emphasis: "Even this shall pass away."
Even this shall pass away.
Reiteration of the transient nature of all things.
Even this shall pass.
-Even this shall pass away."
-Away
-Away
-Away
Final repetition and emphasis on the passing nature of everything.
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