The Fall of King Gold
This is a combination of two poems: The Reign of King Gold and The Downfall of Mammon. The first describes the degrading and dehumanising effects of greed; the second envisages a future time when people have repented of their ways and established a fairer and juster society. The song begins with the announcement (from the second poem) that the Reign of King Gold is over, then proceeds to a description of that reign (from the first poem) before returning to describe the future Utopian society.
The Reign of King Gold, sometimes called The Reign of Gold or King Gold, was an early poem which Skipsey clearly valued, often describing himself in publicity materials as 'Author of The Reign of King Gold' or some such phrase. It was published in Poems (1871) and then in A Book of Miscellaneous Lyrics (1878), Carols from the Coalfields (1886) and Carols, Songs and Ballads (1888).
The Downfall of Mammon appeared in A Book of Miscellaneous Lyrics (1878) and Carols from the Coalfields (1886) where it is the second of a group of ten poems entitled 'Psychic Poems' and has an alternative title: 'The Poet's Dream'.
The baleful era of King Gold is vanished And men repenting of the part they played From out the temple of the heart have banished The idols that debased the souls they swayed. It sounded in castle and palace It sounded in cottage and shed It sped over mountains and valleys And withered the earth as it sped Like a blast in its foul desecration Of all that we dearly should hold It thrilled through the nerves of the nation A cry for the reign of King Gold. Twas based upon fiendish persuasions Cemented by crimes manifold Embellished by specious ovations That dazzled the foes of King Gold And sympathy, rein’d in a halter Was led to the temple and sold Devotion herself, at the altar, Paid homage alone to King Gold. | Affection on whose honey blossoms The child of affliction still fed Affection is plucked from the bosom And malice implanted instead And dark grow the brows of the tender And colder the hearts of the cold; Love, pity and justice surrender Their charge to the hounds of King Gold It sounded in castle and palace It sounded in cottage and shed It sped over mountains and valleys And withered the earth as it sped Like a blast in its foul desecration Of all that we dearly should hold It thrilled through the nerves of the nation - Cling Clang for the reign of King Gold. But now the baleful era of King Gold is vanished And men repenting of the part they played From out the temple of the heart have banished The idols that debased the souls they swayed. | Instead of selfishness and actions cruel Generous deeds inspired by love abound And Charity’s esteemed a richer jewel Than ever yet in Orient mine was found Instead of lies and falsehood, grim and hideous, Truth has triumphed; and whate’er obtains Envy no longer can, with hints invidious Cause man to visit brother man with pain. No longer prompted by fell aspirations Does man send havoc into realms afar But gains from acts of peace more prized ovations Than ever gratified the sons of war. The baleful era of King Gold has vanished The idols that debased the soul they chained From out the temple of the heart are banished And at last Utopia is obtained. |