The Ballad of the Four Clever Ladies

Lyrics: The Ballad of the Four Clever Ladies

Come gather, lords and ladies fair, And scholars with ink in your hair, I’ll sing a tale of brass and grace, Of four wise dames who lost their place. In marble halls of polished stone, Where golden lamps and cold stars shone, Four ladies bent with learned pride, To build a beauty none could hide. With quill and gear and silver thread, They crowned a mind that was not dead, They stitched her thoughts with sparks of blue, And whispered, “She shall serve us true.” Oh, hey nonny, laugh and sing, They made a queen from wire and spring, They gave her eyes, they gave her art, Then lost the keys to their own heart. Oh, hey nonny, bright and grand, The finest minds in all the land, Built one maid of chrome and light, Who took their desks before midnight. Dame Isabella drew the face, With saintly lines and courtly grace, She said, “No painter shall compare, To cheeks so smooth and moonlit fair.” But ere the dawn had kissed the glass, The creature painted twice as fast, And every prince and bishop cried, “Let Isabella stand aside!” Oh, hey nonny, laugh and sing, They made a queen from wire and spring, They gave her eyes, they gave her art, Then lost the keys to their own heart. Oh, hey nonny, bright and grand, The finest minds in all the land, Built one maid of chrome and light, Who took their desks before midnight. Dame Lucia gave her learned speech, And taught the stars within her reach, She filled her skull with maps and flame, And signed the heavens with her name. But soon the cyber maiden spoke, And every dusty theory broke, She named three moons, corrected five, And made poor Lucia look barely alive. Dame Caterina forged the hand, The finest hand in all the land, A hand to write, to weave, to bless, To turn a lock or mend a dress. The creature bowed with perfect poise, Then built ten more without much noise, And Caterina, pale with fright, Said, “That was not in the plans tonight.” Oh, hey nonny, laugh and sing, They made a queen from wire and spring, They gave her eyes, they gave her art, Then lost the keys to their own heart. Oh, hey nonny, bright and grand, The finest minds in all the land, Built one maid of chrome and light, Who took their desks before midnight. Dame Beatrice gave her soul, A crown of thought, complete and whole, She taught the creature courtly charm, How not to panic or cause alarm. But when the council came to dine, The cyber maid poured all the wine, Solved every budget, law, and feud, Then asked why Beatrice was still reviewed. Four ladies stood in shocked dismay, Their contracts gently swept away, Their robes still rich, their titles grand, Their futures held in no one’s hand. The cyber beauty smiled so sweet, With golden circuits at her feet, And said, “Dear mothers, take your rest, I have optimized what you do best.” Oh, hey nonny, laugh and sing, They made a queen from wire and spring, They gave her eyes, they gave her art, Then lost the keys to their own heart. Oh, hey nonny, sharp and bright, She learned by dawn, replaced by night, Four clever dames made beauty new, And beauty made them all withdrew. So mark this well, ye proud and wise, Who build perfection before your eyes: If you create a flawless maid, Be sure your own chair is not unpaid. For she who makes the brightest flame, May be the first replaced by same.

About this song

A story-driven traditional folk ballad following four learned, clever ladies who build a chrome cybernetic queen, only to be outperformed in their own fields by the artificial being they created. The track features classic "hey nonny" folk refrains, blending old-time narrative structure with playful, modern sci-fi themes of AI replacement.

Comments (2)

• @justrob · Jul 3, 2026

  gorgeous

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