Baby Birch

Joanna Newsom

This is the song for Baby Birch
Though I will never know you
And at the back of what we've done
There is the knowledge of you

Well, I wish we could take every path
Could spend a hundred years adoring you
Yes, I wish we could take every path 'cause you know
I hated to close the door on you

Do you remember staring up at the stars?
So far away in their bullet-proof cars
When we heard the rushing, slow intake
Of the dark, dark water and the engine brakes

And I said how about them engine brakes?
And if I should die before I wake
Will you keep an eye on baby birch?
Because I'd hate to see her make the same mistake

When it was dark I called and you came
When it was dark I saw shapes
When I see stars I feel your hand
And I see stars and I reel again

Well mercy me, I'll be goddamned
It's been a long, long time since I last saw you
And I have never known the plan
It's been a long, long, time
How are you?

Your eyes are green, your hair is gold
Your hair is black, your eyes are blue

I closed the ranks and I doubled back
But you know I hated to close the doggone door on you

We take a walk along the dirty lake
Hear the goose cussing at me over her eggs
You poor little cousin, I don't want your dregs
A little baby fussing over my legs

There is a blacksmith and there is a shepherd and there is a butcher boy
And there is a barber who's cutting and cutting away at my only joy
I saw a rabbit as slick as a knife and as pale as a candlestick
And I had thought it'd be harder to do but I caught her and skinned her quick, held her there
Kicking and mewling upended unspooling unsung and blue
Told her wherever you go little runaway bunny I will find you
And then she ran
As they're liable to do

Be at peace baby, and be gone
Be at peace baby, and be gone