Mary's Waltz - Over the Rhine

Mary’s Waltz

words and music: Detweiler

recordings: Amateur Shortwave Radio, The Darkest Night of the Year

There was a blind girl with braids and a black dress

Lived next to me I could tell you the address

I saw her climb out her window one midnight

In to the oak tree scared sacred with moonlight

See Mary dance with the light on her shoulders

She has a secret, like a lover discovers her

Guardian angel with limbs white as lambs wool

Expensive perfume on her feet

Blind Mary taught me how eyes can make pictures

I showed her mine and then she showed me all hers

You have to close them she whispered a warning

Be sure to open them before it’s morning

See how we dance with the light on our shoulders

We have a secret like lovers discovering

Guardian angels with limbs white as lambs wool

Expensive perfume on our feet

Mary fell ill on a night in December

And how they tried then to cool down her fever

But she lay so still like a child in a manger

While I closed my eyes tight and prayed for a savior

Let Mary dance with the light on her shoulders

Tell her a secret and let her discover her

Guardian angel with limbs white as lambs wool

Expensive perfume on his feet