The Night Watch

Shine, shine, the light of good works shine
 The watch before the city gates, depicted in their prime
 The golden light all grimy now
 300 years have passed
 The worthy Captain and his squad of troopers standing fast
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 The artist knew their faces well
 The husbands of his lady friends
 His creditors and councillors
 In armour bright, the merchant men
 Official moments of the guild
 In poses keen from bygone days
 City fathers frozen there
 Upon the canvas dark with age
 The smell of paint, a flask of wine
 And turn those faces all to me
 The blunderbuss and halberd-shaft
 The Dutch respectability
 They make their entrance one by one
 Defenders of that way of life
 The redbrick home, the bourgeoisie
 Guitar lessons for the wife
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 So many years we suffered here
 Our country racked with Spanish wars
 Now comes a chance to find ourselves
 Quiet reigns behind our doors
 Think about posterity again
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 So the pride of little men
 The burghers good and true
 Still living through the painter's hand
 Request you all to understand