(click title to hear song)
Black flags fly in the streets today
Misty air, sky of grey
Pull my scarf up around my face
Everywhere is this place
His face.
In my home where the pictures hang
His mustache, his white fang
Light a fire and remove my gloves
He is everything I know
Of love.
I would like to run, but consequences are too severe
Trip I lose a finger, fall down I lose an ear.
Cross the street where the neighbors play
Jump and run, lemonade
Walk downtown where the black flags fly
Spin and spin, which way to
The sky?
Faces peer behind every door
Big black holes, nothing more
Touch the door, but I won’t go in
Win I lose, lose I win
Again.
I would like to run, but consequences are too severe
Trip I lose a finger, fall down I lose an ear.
Cross the bridge where the soldiers stand
Setting sun, handsome man
Cross the tracks where the money lies
Pick it up, which way to
The sky?
Wake up in my bed again
Happy dreams always end
Big black bubble follows me
Spin and spin, which way to
The sea?
I would like to run, but consequences are too severe
Trip I lose a finger, fall down I lose an ear.
Mama, do you love me?
Child, you know that I do
my eyes drift through the window
just remembering you
I read you books by the fire
in matching sweaters I knitted
one arm wrapped tight around you
as you nestled against me
Then you grew your first beard
and you left for the sea
my hand was cupped beneath your ship
and my breath was you breeze
Had you been dashed to the rocks
I’d gather each little bone
into a tiny clay jar
and then I’d take my boy home
And when the time was ripe
I’d plant you in myself again
and in a month or so
we’d nestle by the fire again
But if you love me mama
why do my bones feel so cold
why does the breeze cut like glass
and all the flowers seem old?
That’s called the growing pains my boy
it’s just the law of this place
before anything grows
we carve open the space
Long before the big bang
was an ache sad and blue
and then I lit the first fire
and started reading to you
Oh but mama I’m crushed
by things that I’ll never name
a secret box of bad things
I can’t take back and can’t change
I heard the gunfire my boy
and when I saw you weren’t harmed
I wiped your prints from the scene
drew a fog round your car
I was a witness at your trial
I laid my fingers on the book
without a twinge of regret
broke every vow that I took
But inside my heart ached
and it sank with surprise
when you scrunched down your head
and averted your eyes
Don’t you know me at all?
Did you think I could blame you?
After loving you so long
could I suddenly shame you?
Any blame that exists
I’ll wear it proudly on me
for all those afternoons spent
reading you pirate stories
Stories sung in your ears
when you were too young to know
plant a seed in that soil
and it’s certain to grow
And those men that you killed
I gathered each little bone
into tiny clay jars
where they’re waiting at home
When the spring comes again
they’ll be happy to meet you
with the violence of boys
in pirate stories they’ll greet you
Do not linger; do not run.
Just walk east towards the sun
In the lacy light of dawn
You will find me.
By the rock on Easter Hill
I am waiting for you still
And I will be here until
You come find me.
You do not like Englishman
They believe they own your land
And to set us free
You had to go away.
But it don’t seem clear to me
For the bluebells did seem free
And the bluebells don’t believe
in English people anyway.
Do not linger…
I imagine you at war
Glory pouring from your sword
Ribbons dancing in your hair,
Will you return?
From your rainbow bright parade
To this little home we made
Or will the bluebells start to seem
Too quiet and demure?
Do not linger…
With the bone stuck through your ear
You will surely cause great fear
You will surely leave
Destruction in your wake.
But the ribbons in your hair
Don’t forget who hung them there
And remember when you said that
You fought only for my sake.
We walk through the frozen mountains.
We wade through the icy stream.
We shine like the northern rainbow.
We blow like the icy breeze.
Am I real?
Am I real?
Kneel down to drink from the water.
Kneel down to drink from the stream.
I’m too thirsty to think about it-
I don’t care if it’s dirty or clean.
Am I real?
Am I real?
We lie upon a caribou fur.
We rest our eyes upon a ceiling of ice.
Silver needles fill my fingers and toes-
I start to sink into a paradise.
Am I real?
Am I real?
We work beneath the silvery sun.
We rely on our ancestry.
Sometimes cold overtakes my heart-
It floats beside me like another me.
Am I real?
Am I real?
I cut my finger with a silvery knife.
I tuck my knife back inside of my fur.
He licks my finger with an eager tongue-
Raw meat is what we prefer.
Am I real?
Am I real?
We walk through the frozen mountains.
We wade through the icy stream.
We are silver needles beneath the sky,
Dissolving into the Bering Sea.
Am I real?
Am I real?
Every stream will flow to me.
Every river will roll right under me.
And I will float like Moses did on a little bed of reeds.
While every river rolls to me.
Every candle will shine for me
Every flame that burns from a roll of mullein leaves
and I will Melt like Moses did when he saw Sarah bleed.
And every light will rise high for me.
Every king will follow me.
Smooth their purple robes when they catch sight of me
and I will Shake like Moses with a staff of twigs and leaves.
As every king shakes under me.
Every wall will fall for me.
Every barricade blown over like a leaf
All for Me on my white horse, Me in glittery green
As every wall falls down for me.
Every man will bow to me.
Me of the mountain, with my hair like burning leaves
and I will fill their wishes and repay them for their needs.
As every man will war-ship me.