Misc Traditional - I cannot come to the banquet

I cannot ^Ecome! I cannot ^Acome to the banquet, don't ^Etrouble me now, I have ^Bmarried a wife, I have ^Ebought me a cow, I have ^Afields and commitments, that ^Ecost a pretty sum, Pray ^Bhold me excused, I cannot ^Ecome.

A certain ^Aman held a feast on ^Ewide estate in town. He ^Blaid a festive table, He ^Ewore a wedding gown, He ^Asent out invitations to his ^Eneighbors far and wide, But ^Bwhen the meal was ready each of ^Ethem replied:

I cannot ^Ecome! I cannot ^Acome to the banquet, don't ^Etrouble me now, I have ^Bmarried a wife, I have ^Ebought me a cow, I have ^Afields and commitments, that ^Ecost a pretty sum, Pray ^Bhold me excused, I cannot ^Ecome.

The master ^Arose up in anger called ^Ehis servants by name; Said, "^BGo into the town; fetch the ^Eblind and the lame. Fetch ^Athe peasant and the pauper ^Efor this I have willed: My ^Bbanquet must be crowded, and my table ^Emust be filled."

I cannot ^Ecome! I cannot ^Acome to the banquet, don't ^Etrouble me now, I have ^Bmarried a wife, I have ^Ebought me a cow, I have ^Afields and commitments, that ^Ecost a pretty sum, Pray ^Bhold me excused, I cannot ^Ecome.

When all the ^Apoor had assembled there was ^Estill room to spare, So the ^Bmaster demanded, "Go ^Esearch everywhere; Search the ^Ahighways and the by ways, and ^Eforce them to come in My ^Btable must be filled before the ^Ebanquet can begin."

I cannot ^Ecome! I cannot ^Acome to the banquet, don't ^Etrouble me now, I have ^Bmarried a wife, I have ^Ebought me a cow, I have ^Afields and commitments, that ^Ecost a pretty sum, Pray ^Bhold me excused, I cannot ^Ecome.

Now God has ^Awritten a lesson for the ^Erest of mankind; If ^Bwe are slow in responding, He ^Emay leave us behind. He's p^Areparing a banquet for ^Ethat great and glorious day, When the ^BLord and Master calls us, be certain ^Enot to say:

I cannot ^Ecome! I cannot ^Acome to the banquet, don't ^Etrouble me now, I have ^Bmarried a wife, I have ^Ebought me a cow, I have ^Afields and commitments, that ^Ecost a pretty sum, Pray ^Bhold me excused, I cannot ^Ecome.