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 ladle to my lip
At the Shrine of the Thousand Arms I lowered my eyes to 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 hangdog
To which I was bound
Curled 'round the bottom rung
Doesn't anybody want you?
Well, come on, darlin'
I could use someone like you around
I am not like you
I ain't from this place
And I do reserve the right to repeat all my same mistakes
And, in the night, like you
I certainly bite and chew
What I can find
And never seem to lose the taste

What a horrible face
I feel me make
For Pete's sake
What you have told me, I cannot erase
Though I keep on saying and I do believe
It is not too late

All day, you're hassling 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 till the early morn'
Lost and lorn among the madding revelry
Sure, I can pass
Honey, I can pass
Particularly when I start to tip my glass
I'll be a sport
And have a go at that old song singing unabashed
'Bout them city girls with their ribbon bows
And their fancy sash'

But, though I get so sad
Could swear the night makes a motion to claim me
Around that second verse
I reckon and I've felt worse
And still held fast
But, later on, when I am alone
Alone at last
Well I take my God to task
I take my doggone God to task