Alius Vita - The Wrong Courtier Lyrics

Unknown rivals for the crown that mattered more than anything back in the days of Arcadia
Do or die, or so it felt to me, when in the days of spring, when we were still so young - never was
Courtiers to queens or lapdogs to girls
We shared the first, but you won the best
On that hill of beans, or diving for pearls
I felt so cursed, while you passed the test

Isn't it the way? Your claim was better
Exited the fray - I can't upset her
So you won the day, and I set sail
Never knowing who beat me, I failed
Isn't it the same? It always was doomed
Aren't I to blame? There never was room
Silly at the start - how could I not see
That the wrong courtier would be me

I cast myself in the role of prince, foolishly wondered why she never looked for hints, or for me
You were there, put in the work to win both of them - only fair that you are now as kin, and I'm not
You were the better man, and I was not
You were more to both of them than me
I had just met her; my kingdom of thought
In the end, it was just fantasy

Isn't it the way? Your claim was better
Exited the fray - I can't upset her
So you won the day, and I set sail
Never knowing who beat me, I failed
Isn't it the same? It always was doomed
Aren't I to blame? There never was room
Silly at the start - how could I not see
That the wrong courtier would be me

Isn't it the way? Your claim was better
Exited the fray - I can't upset her
So you won the day, and I set sail
Never knowing who beat me, I failed
Isn't it the same? It always was doomed
Aren't I to blame? There never was room
Silly at the start - how could I not see
That the wrong courtier would be me

Interloper and usurper
Or I'd have been, if I kept them
A pretender, unread sender
Noble? Hardly. Bastard? Truly
A false prophet, couldn't stop it
Was I cunning? Hardly running
Now I'm lucid, it was stupid
I spit and cough, one letter off
It's appalling, it's so galling
I was so close, but so morose
But so far still, climbing that hill
So mistaken, overrated
Low ball bidding, always sitting
Could I have had? Or am I mad
He took from me what I can't be
It's my fault, though - I didn't know

Courtiers to queens, unknown rivals too
The smarter one played the longer game
His polish, it gleams, while I sit and stew
And here I thought we were just the same

Isn't it the way? Your claim was better
Exited the fray - I can't upset her
So you won the day, and I set sail
Never knowing who beat me, I failed
Isn't it the same? It always was doomed
Aren't I to blame? There never was room
Silly at the start - how could I not see
That the wrong courtier would be me

Isn't it the way? Your claim was better
Exited the fray - I can't upset her
So you won the day, and I set sail
Never knowing who beat me, I failed
Isn't it the same? It always was doomed
Aren't I to blame? There never was room
Silly at the start - how could I not see
That the wrong courtier would be me