The Wife Of Michael Cleary
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I wrapped his wounds in nettle leaves
Around his neck an amulet of rabbit feet
A love as deep as winter sea,
When the waves rolled out I was left on the beach.
And underneath my petticoats of cotton and calico,
A gypsy heart and a madwoman's soul,
So stir your tea leaves and butter your bread,
But the wife of Michael Cleary won't be home again.
That night the rage of thunder burned across his chest
As he gathered up his hunters and rounded up his men
And they searched along the rivers and the mountains and the glen
But the wife of Michael Cleary won't be home again.
The stars glint like cleavers,
My love it was only a fever
I swear I tried to get clean,
But it keeps the bats away and it keeps the devil near.
And he would look into my eyes,
My two round lapis lazuli
Back in our bed he'd set me alight
And we'd cast the demons out all night,
Til they dowsed the flames by the holy well
And the smoke filled up the guilty air
And the village smelt like burning flesh
As the changeling was put to rest
And all the ladies shook their heads
And bit their lips as they softly said
'Oh the scandal! oh the mess! The wife of Cleary must be dead!'
And the moon gaped like an open mouth
As they stood in shock to watch the flames die down
My baby's safe now, Liverpool bound,
And I'm safe from hell in the hallowed ground.
And the stars glint like cleavers,
My love, it was only a fever
I swear I tried to get clean,
But it keeps the bats away and it keeps the devil near