1. |
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I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure we would not sever
My apple tree, my brightness,
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And I'm worn by the weather
When my family think
That I'm safely in my bed
Oh, from night until morning
I am stretched out at your head
Calling out unto the air
With tears hot and wild
For the loss of the one
That I loved as a child
Oh, the priests and the friars
They approach me in dread
For I love you still
Oh, my love, and you're dead
I still will be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm
I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure we would not sever
My apple tree, my brightness,
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And I'm worn by the weather
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2. |
My Head Is Full of Hymns
04:01
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at midnight, I slip from my clothes
and go stepping into the dew-dappled dark
and all is hushed with the hush of the dark
and the low-hanging face of the moon
and the stars, stars! shed their skins
slip, slip, silentest
glow greenlights in the long grass
and my head is full of hymns
and I, alone and human
naked and surrounded by the earth
raise my arms
to God and the moon
and my head is full of hymns
all dark-glimmered with glory, glory, glory
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3. |
Nightmarket
03:43
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Bonfires, bookshelves, the sting of spring rain
Wet ink and church bells and hurricane gusts!
The burning of city walls, paper, and pine
Alexandria’s secrets all crumbling to dust!
Every spark of the world
Every story, every thread
Is contained in a single breath!
I’ve lies and flies, lovers and levees
Half-finished symphonies; an ingénue dying in her bed!
And all that I ask is a kiss!
Driftwood from shipwrecks upon Lethe’s shores
The thread of the dream he forgot
The smoke, rust, and charms of the city – it roars!
Soul-candles slyly snuffed out!
All of the worlds
Every facet, every crossroads!
I have for you spread on my table!
I’ve spinets and sinners, alchemy beginners
Letters from the alphabet of Hell!
And all that I ask is a bit of your time!
Not much, just a minute, you’ll barely know it’s gone!
I can mend up the tear, my fingers are quick!
Gently now! I’ll leave you a kiss!
No-one ever forgets me
Spinning new things from dead things
If you come closer, I’ve secrets to offer!
But look sharp! Don’t start!
They’re not mine!
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4. |
Orchard
04:02
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Oh, it is time; the summer was immense
But the stars are all looking from the east to the west
Oh, will you come with me? Will you come?
Your mouth is orchard-sticky, my hair is all askew
I think the wind’s remembering what the trees always knew
Will you come with me? Oh will you come?
Down in the orchard the leaves are leaking from the trees
September’s lying down; October’s sinking to her knees
Will you come to taste the night fruit
And take breaths full of stars
Will you come with me – will you come?
Oh, step in time; the sky she has no rest
First the sunset scorches down then the stars all undress
Will you come with me? Will you come?
My scarf is tangled round my throat; the leaves are falling fast
Hold October in your fist; oh pray let it last
Will you come with me? Oh will you come?
Down in the orchard the leaves are leaking from the trees
September’s lying down; October’s sinking to her knees
Will you come to bury yesterday
In a gown of red and gold
Will you come with me – will you come?
Oh the autumn-time is coming
And the leaves are gently falling
Where the wild mountain thyme
Grows among the blooming heather
Will you go, lassie, go?
And we’ll all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All among the blooming heather
Down in the orchard the leaves are leaking from the trees
September’s lying down; October’s sinking to her knees
Will you come to drink the vintage
And light a fire in the earth
Will you come with me – will you come?
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5. |
Mr Eliot Was Wrong
03:07
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Oh, all the time now
My hands smell of coffee
But the air doesn’t smell like spring
If I lean from the window
I can almost net the sunshine
But the light is still so thin
Every day now
I open the window
To let some new air in
The bedroom is thick with
Layers of history
The winter brought with him
And I don’t know what the birds told you
I’m convalescing just fine
It’s just these winter winds
Underneath my skin
I guess it’ll just take some time
Tell me good morning
I’ve got a story
Twisting up inside my brain
I’m biding my time
I’m borrowing lives
Till the summer opens me up again
And Mr Eliot was wrong, you know
As months go, March is much crueller
I spend all of my time
Waiting in line
Waiting for someone to hand me a future
Oh, all the time now
My hands smell of coffee
I can barely hear myself thinking –
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6. |
Priya Song
04:42
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light goes out
inside my head
but you wait for me
but you wait for me
sliding glass
and fingertips
wait for me
will you wait for me
stars went out
the day I arrived
stars go out
when I curl inside
will you wait for me
will you wait for me
I paint clouds
over the windows
over the windows
over my eyes
but I don’t sing
no, I don’t sing no, I don’t sing, I don’t sing
oh will you wait for me
there is no sun inside these walls
I don’t know how anything grows at all
except for you
stars went out
inside my eyes
but you wait for me
you wait for me
I don’t know how anything grows
what is truth
and what is not?
what is memory
and what is dream?
but you wait
you wait for me
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7. |
The Water Is Wide
04:28
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The water is wide and I cannot cross over
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry me to you
And both shall row, my love and I
A ship there is and she sails the sea
She’s loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I’m in
I know not if I sink or swim
I lay my head in the old oak leaves
I lay my heart down to sleep
I watch the shore, I watch the sea
I wait for one who does not wait for me
Must I go bound while you go free
Must I love a man who’s wed the sea
Must I be born with so little art
As to love a man who'll break my heart
The water is wide and I cannot cross over
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry me to you
And both shall row, my love and I
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Jo Robbins Cincinnati, Ohio
jo robbins lives in cincinnati and plays sad queer music but also whaling songs sometimes.
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