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I Cannot Come to the Banquet
(The Wedding Banquet)
A certain man held a feast

Miriam Therese Winter

Hymnary text authority (3 instances)
Not in the Cyber Hymnal™
© 1965 Medical Mission Sisters

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
    

Tune:

THE WEDDING BANQUET, composed by Miriam Therese Winter.

YouTube with lyrics