The six brave burghers of Calais,
bent on the final sacrifice
first cast by Rodin in clay.

The King demanded they pay the price
which was too dear for grief to bear,
bent on the final sacrifice.

The Queen then begged the king to spare
those lives still hanging by a string,
which was too dear for grief to bear.

The King considered everything;
the heavy crown, the weighty choice;
those lives still hanging by a string,

until at last he heard her voice,
so strong, so insistent, he had to yield.
For heavy crown, the weighty choice

for valor shown while in the field,
so strong, so insistent, he had to yield
by six brave burghers of Calais
first cast by Rodin in clay.