Chorus:
I cannot come,
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I've married a wife; I've bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused, I cannot come.
1 A certain man held a feast on his fine estate in town.
He laid a festive table and he wore a wedding gown.
He sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide,
but when the meal was ready, each of them replied: (Chorus)
2 The master rose up in anger, called his servants by name,
said: "Go into the town, fetch the blind and the lame,
fetch the peasant and the pauper, for this I have willed,
my banquet must be crowded, and my table must be filled. (Chorus)
3 When all the poor had assembled, there was still room to spare,
so the master demanded: "Go search every where,
to the highways and the byways and force them to come in.
My table must be filled before the banquet can begin. (Chorus)
4 Now God has written a lesson for the rest of the mankind;
If we're slow in responding, he may leave us behind.
He's preparing a banquet for that great and glorious day—
when the Lord and Master calls us, be certain not to say: (Chorus)
When we sang this at Fremont Baptist in the Serenity Service, some
of us would alter the chorus the last time through to
I've bought me a wife, I have married a cow