Woman King
blackbird claw, raven wing
under the red sun, hide
long clothesline, two shirtsleeves
waving as we go by
hundred years, hundred more
someday we may see
a woman king
wristwatch time
slowin as she goes to sleep
black horsefly, lemonade
jar on the red anthill
garden worm, cigarette
ash on the windowsill
hundred years, hundred more
someday we may see
a woman king
sword in hand
swing at some evil and bleed
black of mare, broken leg
high on the shotgun shell
age old dog, hornet nest
built in the big church bell
hundred years, hundred more
someday we may see
a woman king
bloodshot eye
thumb down and starting to weep...
Jezebel
Who's seen Jezebel
She was born to be the woman I would know
And hold like a breeze half as tight as both eyes closed
Who's seen Jezebel
She went walking where the cedars line the road
Her blouse on the ground where the dogs were hungry, roaming
Sayin' wait
We swear we'll love you more
And wholly, Jezebel
It's we, we that you are for only
Who's seen Jezebel
She was born to be the woman we could blame
Make me a beast half as brave and be the same
Who's seen Jezebel
She was gone before I ever got to say
Lay here, my love, you're the only shape I pray to
Jezebel
Who's seen Jezebel
Will the mountain last as long as I can wait
Wait like the dawn, how it aches to meet the day
Who's seen Jezebel
She was certainly the spark for all I've done
The window was wide, she could see the dogs come runnin'
Sayin' wait
We swear we'll love you more
And wholly, Jezebel
It's we, we that you are for only
Gray Stables
brave lady, I could see you through
the mosses
laid, shameless in the sin
my lady with her porcelain and her
weightless
face, pleasing everyone
gray stables, and the horses of the
righteous
pray daily for the brave
lady, you were gorgeous in your
weakness
wet flowers on the ground
my lady never told of her sadness
bones floating in the sound
brave lady, could see me in the
darkness
wait, nameless like a stone
my lady with her watches by the
mattress
bathes lately all alone
gray stables and the horses of the
righteous
pray daily for the brave
lady, would you love me if I left her
laid breathless in the sun
my lady, like a teacup on the counter
frail, pleasing everyone
Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
Mary, carry your babe
bound up tight like lips around a whimper
your fingers over my face
blind eyed Sampson driven to the temple
and night birds digging until dawn
freedom hangs like Heaven over everyone
ain't nobody knows what the newborn holds
but his mama says he'll walk on water
and wander back home
Mary, carry your shame
well past all those eyes across the avenue
fish heads running from rain
you know I'll do anything you want me to
lamp oil lovers may say
freedom hangs like Heaven over everyone
ain't nobody knows what the newborn holds
but his papa's going to hide shaking gristle
and shaking like bone
Mary, carry my name
hoof marks hacked up all I had to offer you
looked all over this place
lost your portrait lately when the winter blew
in like herod and them
freedom hangs like Heaven over everyone
anybody knows what the newborn holds
but a dollar says he'll lick that devil
and do it alone
My Lady's House
there is light in my lady's house
and there's none but some falling rain
this like a spoken word
she is more than her thousand names
no hands are half as gentle
or firm as they like to be
thank God you see me the way you do
strange as you are to me
it is good in my lady's house
and the shape that her body makes
love is a fragile word
in the air on the length we lay
no hands are half as gentle
or firm as they like to be
thank God you see me the way you do
strange as you are to me
Evening On The Ground (Lilith's Song)
Hey man, evening on the ground
and there is no one else around
so you will blame me
blame me for the rocks
and baby bones and broken lock
on the garden
garden wall of eden
for the spider bites
and all your love as we were
we were born to fuck each other
one way or another
But Ill only lie
down by the waterside at night
Hey man, tiny baby tears
I will collect a million years
and you can blame me
blame me, I will wear it
in the empty, hollow part of my garden
garden wall of eden
and the clamour as they rais the curtain
you will, you will never make me learn
to lay beneath the mountain
caus I'll only lie
down by the waterside at night
