Herod

Herod the curious
Herod the curious
Herod the curious was furious
In his citadel on the hill
Herod the jealous one
Dying without a son
Bade his soldiers drink his fill

Herod the hideous
Herod the hideous
Herod the hideous, perfidious
Lifted his demon voice, evil and shrill
Loudly commanded them
Go then to Bethlehem
All the newborn babes to kill

And the jackals cackled
Chacka chaka chaka cha
To think of such a lie
That the promised King of Israel
Was only born to die

But the rooster keeping vigil
In the first still light of morning
Afar off saw a plume of dust
And raised a din of warning in disgust
A nightmare's coming true!
An army is in view!
King Herod does pursue!

Herod vainglorious
Herod vainglorious
Herod vainglorious, victorious
Lashed his horses in wild pursuit
Closer and closer he came
Hate burning like a flame
Raised his spear in mock salute

And out to the desolation
Of the dawning desert waste
They fled on a drowsy donkey
In confusion yawning
Even in their haste
And the animals looked on
As they faded in the dawn
And suddenly were gone

Which way to Egypt then?
Which way to Egypt then?
Which way to Egypt then?
Joseph asked the donkey
Lost in a storm of swirling sand

As from his chariot
Herod Iscariot
Cast his eye across the land