The Minas

The Minas is a slow, haunting Delta blues inspired by Luke 19:11–27 — the parable of the nobleman who entrusted his servants with silver before leaving for a distant country. A story about faithfulness, fear, responsibility, and the day of reckoning.

Stripped down to raw acoustic guitar, foot stomp percussion, and mournful harmonica, this version keeps the storytelling front and center — like an old field recording echoing across a dusty road.

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Scripture: Luke 19:11–27

¹¹ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. ¹² He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.^[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

¹⁹ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

²⁰ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

²² “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

²⁴ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

²⁵ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

²⁶ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ²⁷ But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

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Lyrics

Verse 1
Well a nobleman was leavin’, had a long road to ride,
Yeah, that nobleman was leavin’, had a far country in mind,
Said, “I’m comin’ back crowned king — keep watch till I arrive.”

Chorus
Oh… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
Yeah… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
I’m comin’ back with a crown, gonna turn this world around.

Verse 2
He called ten weary servants, pressed silver in their hands,
Yes, he called them dusty servants, put silver in their hands,
Said, “Do business with what I give — make it grow across this land.”

Chorus
Oh… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
Yeah… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
I’m comin’ back with a crown, gonna turn this world around.

Verse 3
Some worked that money faithful, let it multiply,
Yeah, some worked that silver steady, watched it multiply,
Turned one little mina into ten stacked high.

Chorus
Oh… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
Yeah… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
I’m comin’ back with a crown, gonna turn this world around.

Verse 4
But one man dug a hole deep, wrapped his coin in cloth,
Yes, he dug that earth so quiet, hid his master’s worth,
Said, “You a hard man reapin’ where you never sowed at first.”

Chorus
Oh… fear will tie you, drag your blessing down,
Yeah… fear will bind you, drag your blessing down,
Bury what you’re given — you lose it when I’m crowned.

Verse 5
When the king came back in glory, called ’em one by one,
Yeah, the king came back in glory, judgment had begun,
Said, “Well done, good servant — your reward has just begun.”

Chorus
Oh… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
Yeah… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
Faithful in the little — I’ll make you ruler of towns.

Verse 6
If you faithful in the small things, more’ll come your way,
Yes, faithful in the small things, more’ll come your way,
But bury what you’ve been given — it’ll fade away.

Final Chorus
Oh… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
Yeah… trade what I give you, don’t let it die in the ground,
I’m comin’ back… I’m comin’ back… wearin’ that crown.

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