Low Entropy - Death Waits In Samarra lyrics

Once upon a time, many, many years ago
A rich merchant in Baghdad sent his servant
To the marketplace to buy provisions
And after a while the servant came back
White-faced and trembling, and said:
Master, when I was in the marketplace
I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and I turned to look
And I saw that it was Death that had jostled me
And she looked at me and made a threatening gesture
Oh, master, please, lend me your horse
That I may ride away from this city and escape my fate
I will ride to Samarra and Death will not find me there

So the merchant loaned him the horse
And the servant mounted it
And dug his spurs into its flank
And as fast as the horse could gallop
He rode towards Samarra
Then the merchant went to the marketplace
And he saw Death standing in the crowd and he said to her:
Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant
When you saw him this morning?
And Death said:
I made no threatening gesture
That was only a start of surprise
I was astonished to see him here in Baghdad
For I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra

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