10000 Maniacs Lyrics

Twice Told Tales (2015)

Lady Mary Ramsey lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

(Instrumental)

The Song Of Wandering Aengus lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

I went out to the hazel wood,

Because a fire was in my head,

And cut and peeled a hazel wand,

And hooked a berry to a thread;

And when white moths were on the wing,

And moth-like stars were flickering out,

I dropped the berry in a stream

And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor

I went to blow the fire a-flame,

But something rustled on the floor,

And someone called me by my name:

It had become a glimmering girl

With apple blossom in her hair

Who called me by my name and ran

And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering

Through hollow lands and hilly lands,

I will find out where she has gone,

And kiss her lips and take her hands;

And walk among long dappled grass,

And pluck till time and times are done,

The silver apples of the moon,

The golden apples of the sun.

She Moved Through The Fair lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind

And my father won't slight you for your lack of kind."

And he stepped away from me and this he did say

"It will not be long, love, till our wedding day."

He stepped away from me and he moved through the fair

And so fondly I watched him move here and move there

Then he made his way homeward with one star awake

As the swan in the evening moves over the lake.

Well I dreamt last night that my dead love came in

And so softly he moved that his feet made no din

Then he came close beside me and this he did say

"It will not be long, love, till our wedding day."

Till our wedding day

Till our wedding day

Day, day, day, day...

Dark Eyed Sailor lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

As I roved out one evening fair

It bein' the summertime to take the air

I spied a sailor and a lady gay

And I stood to listen

And I stood to listen to hear what they would say.

He said "Fair lady, why do you roam

For the day is spent and the night is on"

She heaved a sigh while the tears did roll

"For my dark-eyed sailor

For my dark-eyed sailor, so young and stout and bold."

"'Tis seven long years since he left this land

A ring he took from off his lily-white hand

One half of the ring is still here with me

But the other's rollin'

But the other's rollin' at the bottom of the sea."

He said "You may drive him out of your mind

Some other young man you will surely find

Love turns aside and soon cold has grown

Like the winter's morning

Like the winter's morning, the hills are white with snow."

She said "I'll never forsake my dear

Although we're parted this many a year

Genteel he was and a rake like you

To induce a maiden

To induce a maiden to slight the jacket blue."

One half of the ring did young William show

She ran distracted in grief and woe

Sayin' "William, William, I have gold in store

For my dark-eyed sailor

For my dark-eyed sailor has proved his honour long"

And there is a cottage by yonder lea

This couple's married and does agree

So maids be loyal when your love's at sea

For a cloudy morning

For a cloudy morning brings in a sunny day.

Misty Moisty Morning lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

One misty moisty morning when cloudy was the weather

I met with an old man a-clothed all in leather

He was clothed all in leather with a cap beneath his chin

Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

This rustic was a thresher as on his way he hied

And with a leather bottle fast buckled by his side

He wore no shirt upon his back but wool unto his skin

Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

I went a little further and there I met a maid

A-going a-milking, a-milking Sir she said

Then I began to compliment and she began to sing

Saying how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

This maid her name was Dolly clothed in a gown of grey

I being somewhat jolly persuaded her to stay

And straight I fell a-courting her in hopes her love to win

Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

I having time and leisure, I spent a vacant hour

A-telling of my treasure while sitting in the bower

With many kind embraces I stroke her double chin

Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

I said that I would married be and she would be my bride

And long we should not tarry and twenty things beside

I'll plough and sow and reap and mow and you shall sit and spin

Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

Her parents then consented, all parties were agreed

Her portion thirty shillings, we married were with speed

Then Will the piper he did play whilst others dance and sing

Saying how do you do and how do you do and how do you do again

Then lusty Ralph and Robin with many damsels gay

Did ride on Roan and Dobbin to celebrate the day

And when they met together their caps they off did fling

Singing how do you do and how do you do and how do you do

And how do you do again

Bonny May lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Bonny May a-shepherding has gone

To call the sheep to the fold

And as she sang, her bonny voice it rang

Right over the tops of the downs, downs,

Right over the tops of the downs.

There came a troop of gentlemen

As they were riding by

And one of them has lighted down

And he's asked of her the way, way,

And he's asked of her the way.

”Ride on, ride on, you rank riders,

Your steeds are stout and strong,

For it's out of the fold I will not go

For fear you do me wrong, wrong,

For fear you do me wrong.”

Now he's taken her by the middle jimp

And by the green gown sleeve,

And there he's had his will of her

And he's asked of her no leave, leave,

And he's asked of her no leave.

Now he's mounted on his berry brown steed,

He soon o'erta'en his men

And one and all cried out to him,

”Oh, master, you tarried long, long,

Oh, master, you tarried long.”

”Oh, I've ridden East and I've ridden West,

And I've ridden o'er the downs,

But the bonniest lass that ever I saw

She was calling her sheep to the fold, fold.”

She's taken the milk pail on her head

And she's gone lingering home.

And all her father said to her

Was, ”Daughter, you tarried long, long,

Oh, daughter, you tarried long.”

”Oh, woe betide your shepherd, father,

He takes no care of the sheep,

For he's builded the fold at the back of the down

And the fox has frightened me, me,

And the fox has frightened me.”

”Oh, there came a fox to the fold door

With twinkling eye so bold,

And ere he'd taken the lamb that he did

I'd rather he'd taken them all, all.”

Now twenty weeks were gone and past,

Twenty weeks and three,

The lassie began to fret and to frown

And to long for the twinkling eye, bright eye,

And to long for the twinkling eye.

Now it fell on a day, on a bonnie summer's day

That she walked out alone.

That self-same troop of gentlemen

Come a-riding over the down, down,

Come a-riding over the down.

”Who got the babe with thee, Bonny May,

Who got the babe in thy arms?”

For shame, she blushed, and aye, she said,

Was ”I've a good man of my own, own.”

”You lie, you lie, you Bonny, Bonny May,

So loud I hear you lie.

Remember the misty murky night

I lay in the fold with thee, thee,

I lay in the fold with thee.

Now he's mounted off his berry brown steed,

He's sat the fair May on.

”Go call out your kye, father, yourself,

She'll ne'er call them again, again,

She'll ne'er call them again.”

Oh, he's Lord of twenty plough of land,

Twenty plough and three,

And he's taken away the bonniest lass

In all the South country,

In all the South country.

Canadee-I-O lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

It's of a fair and handsome girl, she's all in her tender years

She fell in love with a sailor boy and it's true that she loved him well

For to go off to sea with him, like she did not know how,

She longed to see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O.

So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it's all for a piece of gold

Straighway he led her all down into the hold

Saying I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes, your jacket shall be blue,

You'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O.

Now, when the other sailors heard the news, they fell into a rage,

And with all the whole ship's company, they were willing to engage,

Saying "We'll tie her hands and feet me boys, overboard we'll throw her

And she'll never see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O."

Now, when the captain he's heard the news, well he too fell into a rage,

And with his whole ship's company he was willing to engage,

Saying "She'll stay all in sailor's clothes, her collar shall be blue,

She'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O."

Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely above half a year,

She's married this bold captain, who calls her his dear,

She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show

She's the finest of the ladies down in Canadee-I-O.

Come all you fair and tender girls, wheresoever you may be,

I'd have you to follow your own love when he goes out on the sea,

For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true,

To see the honour I have gained by the wearing of the blue.

Do You Love An Apple? lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Do you love an apple? Do you love a pear?

Do you love a laddie with bonnie brown hair?

But still I love him, I can't deny him

I'll be with him wherever he goes

He works at the pier for nine bob a week

Come Saturday night, he comes rolling home drunk

But still I love him, I can't deny him

I'll be with him wherever he goes

He stood at the corner, a fag in his mouth

Two hands in his pockets, he whistled me out

But still I love him, I can't deny him

I'll be with him wherever he goes

Before I got married I wore a black shawl

But since I got married I wore coveralls

But still I love him, I can't deny him

I'll be with him wherever he goes

Before I got married I'd sport and I'd play

But now, the cradle, it gets in me way

But still I love him, I can't deny him

I'll be with him wherever he goes

Do you love an apple? Do you love a pear?

Do you love a laddie with bonnie brown hair?

But still I love him, I can't deny him

I'll be with him wherever he goes

Greenwood Sidey lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

There was a lady lived in York - all the lee and loney

Fell in love with her father's clerk - down by the greenwood sidey-o

She loved him up, she loved him down - all the lee and loney

Loved him 'til he filled her arms - down by the greenwood sidey-o

She leant her back against an oak - all the lee and loney

First it bent and then it broke - down by the greenwood sidey-o

She leant her back against a thorn - all the lee and loney

There she had two fine babes born - down by the greenwood sidey-o

She took out her reaping knife - all the lee and loney

There she took those sweet babes' lives - down by the greenwood sidey-o

She wiped the blade against her shoe - all the lee and loney

The more she rubbed, the redder it grew - down by the greenwood sidey-o

She went back to her father's hall - all the lee and loney

Saw two babes a-playing at ball - down by the greenwood sidey-o

'Oh babes oh babes if you were mine' - all the lee and loney

'I'd dress you up in scarlet fine' - down by the greenwood sidey-o

'Oh Mother oh Mother if we were yours' - all the lee and loney

'Scarlet was our own hearts' blood' - down by the greenwood sidey-o

'Oh babes oh babes it's Heaven for you' - all the lee and loney

'Oh Mother oh Mother it's Hell for you' - down by the greenwood sidey-o

Carrickfergus lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

I wish I was in Carrickfergus

Only for nights in Ballygrand

I would swim over the deepest ocean

Only to be there, to be by your side

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over

And neither have I the wings to fly

I wish I had a handsome boatsman

To ferry me over to my love and die

My childhood days bring back sad reflections

Of happy days spent so long ago

My boyhood friends and my own relations

Have all passed on now like a melting of snow

So I'll spend my days in endless roaming

Soft is the grass, and my bed is free

Ah, to be home now in Carrickfergus

On that long road down to the salty sea

And in Kilkenny it is reported

On marble stone there as black as ink

With gold and silver I did support her

But I'll sing no more now til I get a drink

And I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober

A handsome rover from town to town

Oh but I'm sick now and my days are numbered

Come all me young men and lay me down

I wish I had you in Carrickfergus

Only for nights in Ballygrand

I would swim over the deepest ocean

Only to be there, to be by your side

Death Of Queen Jane lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Queen Jane lay in labour

Full nine days or more

Till her women were so tired

They could no longer bare

They could no longer bare

Good women, good women

Good women as ye be

Will you open my right side

And find my baby

And find my baby

Oh no cried the women

That's a thing that never can be

We will send for King Henry

And hear what he may say

And hear what he may say

King Henry was sent for

King Henry did appear

Saying, "What are ail you making?

Your eyes they look so dim

Your eyes they look so dim"

King Henry, King Henry

Will you do one thing for me?

That's to open my right side

And find my baby

And find my baby

"Oh no," cried King Henry

"That's a thing I'll never could do

If I lose the flower of England

I shall lose the branch too

I shall lose the branch too"

There was fiddling and dancing

On the day the babe was born

But poor Queen Jane beloved

Lay cold as the stone

Lay cold as the stone

Wild Mountain Thyme lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Oh the summer time is coming

And the leaves are sweetly turning

And the wild mountain thyme

Blooms across the blooming heather

Will you go lassie go

And we'll all go together

To pull wild mountain thyme

All across the purple heather

Will you go lassie go

I will build my love a bower

Near yon pure and crystal fountain

And on it I will lay

All the flowers of the mountain

Will you go lassie go

And we'll all go together

To pull wild mountain thyme

All across the purple heather

Will you go lassie go

If you will not go with me

I will surely find another

To pull wild mountain thyme

Across the purple heather

Will you go lassie go

And we'll all go together

To pull wild mountain thyme

All around the purple heather

Will you go lassie go

Marie's Wedding lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Step we gaily on we go,

Heel for heel

And toe for toe,

Arm and arm

And row and row,

All for Marie's wedding.

Over hillways, up and down,

Myrtle green and bracken brown,

Past the sheilings through the town

All for the sake of Marie.

Step we gaily on we go,

Heel for heel

And toe for toe,

Arm and arm

And row and row,

All for Marie's wedding.

Red her cheeks as Rowan's are,

Bright her eyes as any star.

Fairest of them all by far,

Is our darlin' Marie.

Step we gaily on we go,

Heel for heel

And toe for toe,

Arm and arm

And row and row,

All for Marie's wedding.

Plenty herring, plenty meal,

Plenty peat to fill her kreel.

Plenty bonnie bairns as well,

That's the toast for Marie.

Lady Mary Ramsay II lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

(Instrumental)

album: "The Earth Pressed Flat" (1999)

The Earth Pressed Flat lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Detroit, L.A., Boston, San Francisco,
first time o'er the ocean on a plane a billion stars below me lay,
circle slowly JFK,
so much there to see inside of a week they came looking for something new
try to press it flat inside of a few days Old Dominion Saturday,
Arlington's eternal flame Sunday tour Niagara Falls in the mist.
Monday I'll be heading south New Orleans the Cajun sound
Tuesday's Tupelo Elvis's home . . .
try to press it flat inside of a few days what a wonderful stay,
on a mule Grand Canyon ride on Wednesday,
hope to get to Denver in a day Friday ride to Washington,
in the glacial mountain sun hop a train for Canada
to the east they came looking for something new
try to press it flat inside of a few days what a wonderful stay

Ellen lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Eager to please was just the way
that he was though his attempts there falling short,
expectation see he would tell of all his conquests, was he bragging?
but in the evening all alone Ellen unplanned delays saving for someone
who really cared about you invincible
they say married to your name she was the kind between a child and a lady,
quick was her temper like a blaze from an ember no one had measured
to her standard, so in the evening all alone all alone how do I tell them
to open their minds and to take a chance maybe on finding
life's treasure stubborn they stay set in their ways really not wanting
to be lonely not alone

Once A City lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

This was once a city harmony a common theme
but these complications now make life a bit uneasy hallowed buildings scrape
the sky voices ride the airwaves once a city years gone
by will they still be standing in the centuries ahead going
underground little children hiding,
bullets never meant for them must there be such bloodshed in our hearts,
our homes, our heads? will I be walking, walking so free?
this was a city once this was once a city harmony a common theme
but these complications once a city, once a dream

Glow lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

In the coolness of the morning sparing moments here in magical tide
I would meet you without question to share a starry gaze
a look through the sky from the start there was this kind of glow the start
when it's right you'll know,
fascinating love's a secret an ancient riddle with no reason
or rhyme unpredictable the muses
they play never knowing whether teasing or shy

On And On lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Out through the foggy window there just to see the eyes of my future children
looking back at me back through the foggy window
on and on miles pass years turn over
on and on there from that rolled down window ponies run free
cradled protectively there in the greenery somewhere I keep this picture
on and on miles pass years turn over
on and on for all the roads we've travelled
and all the bridges burned I was thinking out loud the ways
of the world that all seem so constant how few
of the lessons we really have learned.
out through the foggy window frozen in frame capturing passing pictures
life's last refrain, memories ashes scatter
on and on miles pass years turn over
on and on

Somebody's Heaven lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

There like a feather you fell someone's heaven above me floating
so fickle tempting me teasing my ways thrown from
its clutches I struggle to free what escapes me
Absalom hanging like you I'm caught in between heaven
then earth then heaven between you release me untangle my hair
Absalom hanging like you I'm caught in between heaven
then earth heaven between you patient I wait
as I hold a small feather that floated from somebody's heaven

Cabaret lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Shards of glass cut through my gaze broken streamers hanging
at my legs drunk and giddy full of fate at the cabaret smokey stares
from the bar do stray bottles tumble I feel the misty spray what a perfect,
perfect day for the cabaret from afar he sees Venus rise
overwhelmingly beautiful he sighs the look of love was in her eyes
puts his hand upon her leg looking closer his lust begins to fade "what a drag,
" the queen did say. could this be a dream I'm in?
Fellini would be proud. gluttony enfolds the scene "give them one last round"
shining faces dance away swinging skirts between the panted legs
kaleidescoping then shassez in a blink the glasses fly suddenly joy
becomes a fight there they tossed and turned a sight

Beyond The Blue lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

I was thinking today if you would remember you choose to remember
what you left me out there in the cold days fading away
I see you so near I hear your voice calling
it calls me from these pages to you beyond the blue,
so sudden too soon the secrets we knew
I was thinking today if you would surrender to feelings
that you tried deserting and if given the choice
I'd still wait for the moment still wait for the moment
when I could have a hero like you days fading away
but I see you so clear I hear your voice calling
it calls me from these pages to you

Smallest Step lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

When the day ends and church bells are ringing
when the valley is shrouded in snow,
when you're feeling that hope somewhere vanished
and there's no poetry left to console you,
with the smallest step you'll find a way oh of fate borne
and life is a jewel but stone will tarnish as dust will descend take a minute
and wipe free the lustre,
it'll mirror a day without end with the smallest step you'll feel
it starts a journey your way.
oh they tried to tell me but I'll learn for myself
and when they tried to tell me you know the words disappeared
on the wind I was running away
and when the laughter echoes through you in a pale beaming ray
and you'll know always and ever within you anyway

In The Quiet Morning lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

In the quiet morning
There was much despair
And in the hours that followed
No one could repair

That poor girl
Tossed by the tides of misfortune
Barely here to tell her tale
Rolled in on a sea of disaster
Rolled out on a mainline rail

She once walked tight at my side
I'm sure she walked by you
Her striding steps could not deny
Torment from a child who knew

That in the quiet morning
There would be despair
And in the hours that followed
No one could repair

That poor girl
She cried out her song so loud
It was heard the whole world round
A symphony of violence
The great southwest unbound

Time Turns lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

I saw time turn so much there to unlearn,
you were envy you wouldn't say you tore heart strings
that sorry day dark light hid the tears one for each of the years
love has reasons reason never knows
time turns over love overflows I should have spoken sooner
on that sorry day your arms are open
and I wondered why
wondered why
five years passed to the day time heals some people say
when you hurt the ones I love you're also hurting me
and time turns over turning you from me I thought you'd never reach me
on that sorry day your arms were open wide and I wondered why

Hidden In My Heart lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

I see the leaves of autumn changing falling turning what was green
I see a door standing open, open to curiosity we could be together tear
it all apart would you ever notice what was hidden in my heart
heartstrong do we ever listen closely
as willows start to weep there as we stood upon the threshold
who said forever was for keeps?
would you ever notice what was hidden in my heart,
my deep heart is reeling forward and steady on to keep,
who made me miss the last ferry?
who made this river so deep?

Who Knows Where The Time Goes? lyrics - 10000 Maniacs

Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time

For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?

album: "Love Among The Ruins" (1997)

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