Ribbon Bows - Joanna Newsom

there is a spring

not far from here

the water runs both sweet and clear

both sweet and clear

and cold

could crack your bones

with veins of gold

i stood a-wagging at the tap

just a-waiting on the lagging rising sap

i held the cold tin neck up to my lip

at the shrine of a thousand arms alone

my eyes took sip

what a beautiful day

to catch my drift

or be caught up in it

you want your love, love

come and get your love

i only took it

back because i thought you didn’t

how my ears did ring

at the municipal pound

from that old hound dog

to each of the bells

go round the bottom end

that nobody wants you

well come on darlin

i could use someone like you around

i am not like you

i aint from this place

and i do reserve the right to repeat

all my same mistakes

but in the night

like you

i certainly bite and chew

well i can find

i never seem to lose the taste

what a horrible face

i feel me make

for pete’s sake

what you have told me

you cannot erase

though i keep on saying

and i do believe

it is not too late

all day you hassle me

with trifles

black nose of the dog

as cold as a rifle

indicating with a nudge

god

no god

god no god

sweet appraising eye of the dog

blink once if god

twice if no god

my mama may be

ashamed of me

with all of my finery

carrying on whooping it up

to the early morn

lost alone among the maddening revelry

shoot i can’t pass

honey i can’t pass

particularly when i stop to tip my glass

i’ll be a sport and have a go

at that old song

singing unabashed

about city girls with the ribbon bows

and the fancy sach

but then i get so sad

could swear the night makes a motion to claim me

round’the second verse

i reckon i felt the worst

and still held fast

but later on when i’m all alone

alone at last

well i take my god to task

i take my dog-gone god to task.