[Opening Crowd] Give us a king like the nations around, A throne we can see and a ruler renowned. Give us a captain to fight at the front, A crown for the fear and the wars that we want. [Verse 1] Samuel was old and his sons twisted right; The elders assembled and pressed their demand. The warning came clearly: a king would take sons, Take daughters and vineyards, take fields and command. He would take servants, the best of the flocks; They still chose a monarch and turned from the Rock. [Chorus] Give us a king, The people cried. They traded the unseen For visible pride. Yet mercy would work Through the choice they had made; A tall man from Benjamin Entered the shade. [Verse 2] Saul searched for donkeys and found something more; Samuel met him as God had told before. Oil touched his forehead; signs marked the road; Prophets surrounded him, spirit bestowed. Hidden among baggage when public lots fell, He stood head and shoulders above Israel. [Final Refrain] "God save the king," rose over the ground, Though some men despised him and questioned the crown. Give us a king like the nations around: The prayer was permitted; the burden was found.