A Hundred Voices (None Invited)

I started singing tales of old Of heroes brave and dragons bold When from the crowd, to my surprise A hundred voices did arise! The butcher thought he was a bard The baker's rhythm running hard The candlestick maker's tone was true Though no one asked him to pursue! When the audience joins right in Without invite or discipline! Some sing high and some sing low Some just shout the words they know! The melody gets torn apart But oh, they sing with all their heart! So raise your voice and join the din When the audience barges in! A merchant lost his dignity When opera seized him suddenly The guard forgot his nightly rounds To add some rather curious sounds! Three dwarves began to harmonize An elf's pitch made the windows rise A wizard's spell went quite astray When music swept his staff away! The innkeep's cat began to yowl The stable boy began to howl The cook abandoned all her stews To dance upon the wooden pews! And there I stood upon the stage As chaos turned to music's rage My careful tune now lost somewhere Beneath the tavern's wild air! So if you hear a perfect song And feel the urge to sing along Remember this tale that I tell Of when my ballad went to.. well Sometimes the best songs ever sung Are when the plans have come undone And every voice joins in the game Though none will sound quite the same!