Am I a serf working your land now,
Growing your fare?
Will you cut off my ear and keep me?
Or am I the slave master and you the slave
In that case, I may do with you as I like,
But I don’t enjoy it as I thought I might,
You are a submissive slave,
And you would have to cut off my ear, earl or baron or lord of the manor,
Though I may not resist once you show me the knife.

Perhaps I only lost my ear in an alehouse brawl then.
But I have no hair to hide the wound.
When people look on me, they will think me a serf always.
But a rebellious slave may walk the streets aloof
You need only steal or kill or work with honesty
With a ripe ear when you visit the alehouse

Earl or baron or lord of the manor, I am not honest.
I steal and kill and you work with honesty
No, you would not cut off my ear if I handed you the knife and readied myself
But if I am the slave master, and you my meek slave,
I think you would not rebel.
I think you would hand me the knife and ready yourself.
Would I cut it off and cast you aside?
No, I would work your land well without my ear,
But then, I am not honest.