pearls did I cast before swine?
How many pearls did I cast
How many hours did I spend in the gutter
when I could have had butter
Hav ing a fling and then having a flutter
How many pearls did I cast
Did they pick up the pearls
would I once again throw them
How many years did I doubt my own power
Do in a minute what should take an hour
Pick every thorn and ignore every flower
How many pearls did I cast
How many moments of fear and doubt
Keeping it in, never letting it out
Taking the low road, the easy way out
How many pearls did I cast
Did they pick up the pearls,
would I once again throw them away?
So do I retire a broken man
and tend to my vegetables now?
Or do I stand tall on my two strong legs
and cast off the yoke and the plough?
And next time I find a pearl in my hand
I will keep it, I will guard it, I will polish
Only give it away to those who deserve it
The more of my pearls will I cost