| Natalie Merchant Lyrics |
| Carnival Wonder Jealousy Kind And Generous Life Is Sweet Frozen Charlotte Break Your Heart This House Is On Fire Motherland Saint Judas Just Can't Last Not In This Life I'm Not Gonna Beg |
| Carnival I've walked these streets, a virtual stage, it seemed to me. Make up on their faces, actors took their places next to me. I've walked these streets in a carnival of sights to see. All the cheap thrill seekers, the vendors and the dealers, they crowded around me. Have I been blind, have I been lost inside myself and my own mind? Hypnotized, mesmerized by what my eyes have seen? I've walked these streets in a spectacle of wealth and poverty, in the diamond market, the scarlet welcome carpet that they just rolled out for me. I've walked these streets in the mad house asylum they can be where a wild eyed misfit prophet on a traffic island stopped and he raved of saving me. Have I been blind, have I been lost inside myself and my own mind? Hypnotized, mesmerized by what my eyes have seen? Have I been wrong, have I been wise to shut my eyes and play along? Hypnotized, paralyzed by what my eyes have found, by what my eyes have seen, what they have seen? Have I been blind, have I been lost, have I been wrong? Have I been wise, have I been strong? Have I been hypnotized, mesmerized by what my eyes have found, in that great street carnival, in that carnival? Wonder Doctors have come from distant cities, just to see me. Stand over my bed, disbelieving what they're seeing. They say I must be one of the wonders of God's own creation. And as far as the can see they can offer no explanation. Newspapers ask intimate questions, want confessions. Reach into my head to steal the glory of my story. They say I must be one of the wonders of God's own creation. And as far as the can see they can offer no explanation. I believe fate smiled and destiny. Laughed as she came to my cradle, "know this child will be able." Laughed as my body she lifted, "know this child will be gifted. With love, with patience and with faith, she'll make her way." People see me, I'm a challenge to your balance. I'm over your heads, how I confound you and astound you to know I must be one of the wonders of God's own creation. And as far as the can see they can offer no explanation. I believe fate smiled and destiny. Laughed as she came to my cradle, "know this child will be able." Laughed as she came to my mother, "know this child will not suffer." Laughed as my body she lifted, "know this child will be gifted. With love, with patience and with faith, she'll make her way." Jealousy Ooo, jealousy. Ooo, jealousy. Is she fine, so well bred? The perfect girl, a social Deb? And is she the sort you've always thought could make, make you what you're not? Ooo, jealousy. Ooo, jealousy. Is she bright, so well read, are there books, are there novels by her bed? And is the sort that you've always said could satisfy your head? Ooo, jealousy. Ooo, jealousy. Ooo, my jealousy. Ooo, my jealousy. Does she talk the way I do? Is her voice, is her voice reminding you of the promises, the little white lies too? Sometimes, tell me, while she's touching you, just by mistake, accidentally do you say my name? Kind And Generous You've been so kind and generous, I don't know how you keep on giving. For your kindness, I'm in debt to you, for your selflessness, my admiration and for everything you've done, you know I'm bound, I'm bound to thank you for it. You've been so kind and generous, I don't know how you keep on giving. For your kindness, I'm in debt to you and I never could have come this far without you so for everything you've done, you know I'm bound, I'm bound to thank you for it. I want to thank you for so many gifts. You gave with love and tenderness, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for your generosity, the love and the honesty that you gave me. I want to thank you, show my gratitude, my love and my respect for you, I want to thank you. I want to thank you… Life Is Sweet It's a pity, it's a crying shame, who pulled you down again? How painful it must be to bruise so easily inside. It's a pity, it's a downright crime, it happens all the time. You want to stay little daddy's girl, you want to hide from the vicious world outside. Don't cry, you know the tears will do no good, so dry your eyes. Oh, your daddy, he's the iron man, battleship wrecked on dry land. Your mamma she's a bitter bride, she'll never be satisfied, you know, and that's not right. But don't cry, you know the tears will do no good so dry your eyes. Oh, they told you life is hard, misery from the start, it's dull, it's slow, it's painful, But I tell you life is sweet in spite of the misery, there's so much more, be grateful. Well, who do you believe, who will you listen to, who will it be? Cause it's high time that you decide in your own mind. I've tried to comfort you, I've tried to tell you to be patient. They are blind, and they can't see. Fortune gonna come one day, they're all gonna fade away. Your daddy, the war machine and your momma, the long and suffering, prisoner of what she cannot see. For they told you life is hard, misery from the start, it's dull, it's slow, it's painful. But I tell you life is sweet in spite of the misery, there's so much more, be grateful. So, who will you believe, who will you listen to, who will it be? Cause it's high time that you decide, it's time to make up your own, your own state of mind. Oh, they told you life is long, be thankful when it's done, don't ask for more, be grateful. But I tell you life is short, be thankful because before you know it, it will be over. Cause life is sweet and life is also very short. And life is sweet and life is also very short… Frozen Charlotte Blue, like the winter snow in the full moon, black like the silhouettes of the trees. Late blooming flowers lie frozen underneath the stars, I want you to remember me that way. (Far away) I'll be gone, will you wait for me here? (How long?) I don't know, will you wait for me here? Still as the river grows in December, silent and in perfect blinding ice. Spring keeps her promises, no cold can keep her back, I want you to remember me that way. (Far away) I'll be gone, will you wait for me here? (How long?) I don't know, but wait for me here. (Follow) don't follow me to where, where I go. (Far away) I'll be gone, will you wait for me here? (How long?) I don't know, will you wait for me here? (Follow) don't follow me to where I've gone. (Follow) don't follow me to where I've gone. (Someday, you'll take my place) and I'll wait for you here. Break Your Heart People downcast in despair, see the disillusion everywhere, hoping their bad luck will change, it's a little harder everyday. People struggle, people fight for the simple pleasures in their life, the trouble comes from everywhere, it's a little more than you can bear. I know that it will hurt, I know that it will break your heart, the way things are and the way they've been and the way they've always been. People shallow, self-absorbed, see them push and shove for their rewards when I, me, mine is on their minds, you can read about it in their eyes. People ruthless, people cruel, the damage that some people do, full of hatred, full of pride, it's enough to make you lose your mind. I know that it will hurt, I know that it will break your heart, the way things are and the way they've been. Yeah, I know that it will hurt, I know that it will break your heart, the way things are and the way they've been. Don't spread the discontent, don't spread the lies, don't make the same mistakes with your own life, you never will let love survive. I know that it will hurt, I know that it will break your heart, the way things are and the way they've been. Don't spread the discontent, don't spread the lies, don't make the same mistakes with your own life, and don't disrespect yourself, don't lose your pride and don't think everybody's gonna choose a side, oh no... This House Is On Fire This house is on fire! Kick off your boots, come sit a spell. Listen to me worry, come and listen well. All you better best come and lean in boys, I don't dare raise my voice. I've been sitting here for the longest time, reading all the warning and the danger signs. I don't have the gift of the prophecy, telling everybody how it's going to be. Soon come, soon come the day, this tinderbox is gonna blow in your face, your face, your face. I don't have the gift of the prophecy, telling everybody how it's going to be. You go passing wrong for right and right for wrong, people only stand for that for just so long. It's all gonna catch like a house on fire, spark an evil blaze and burn higher. Well, I don't have the gift of the prophecy, telling everybody how it's going to be. You go passing wrong for right and right for wrong, people only stand for that for just so long. I don't have the gift of the prophecy, telling everybody how it's going to be. There's a wild fire catching in the whip of the wind, that could start a conflagration like there has never been. This house is on fire! This house is on fire. Motherland Where in the hell can you go? Far from the things that you know, far from the sprawl of concrete that keeps crawling its way, about 1,000 miles a day. Take one last look behind, commit this to memory and mind. Don't miss this wasteland, this terrible place when you leave, keep your heart off your sleeve. Motherland, cradle me, close my eyes, lullaby me to sleep. Keep me safe, lie with me, stay beside me, don't go. Don't you go. Oh, my five and dime queen, tell me, what have you seen? The lust and the avarice, the bottomless, cavernous greed, is that what you see? Oh, Motherland cradle me, close my eyes, lullaby me to sleep. Keep me safe, lie with me, stay beside me don't go. It's your happiness I want most of all, and for that I'd do anything at all, oh mercy me. If you want the best of it or the most of all, if there's anything I can do at all. Now, come on, shot gun bride, what makes me envy your life? Faceless, nameless, innocent, blameless and free, what's that like to be? Oh, Motherland cradle me, close my eyes, lullaby me to sleep. Keep me safe, lie with me, stay beside me don't go, don't go, don't go. Motherland cradle me, close my eyes, lullaby me to sleep. Keep me safe, lie with me, stay beside me don't go. Saint Judas Saddle up the horses and wear your Sunday best, sing your Sacred Harp, you be holier than the rest. Fill up the room with a grand and thunderous song, let it rattle out the windows, let it spill out on the lawn. Shout, shout your praises to the man who kissed the Lord to the back stabbing brother that betrayed all of this world, your Judas! Yeah, though you may walk in the valley in the dark, there's no greater evil than the darkness in your heart. With your stun guns, bloodhounds, needle and your razor wire Your nylon shackle whipping post and your high tech burning tire, your Judas, Judas, Judas. Whiplash crack across the back, across the arms, although you bound his feet, he running fast he running hard. Through them crickets in the corn and them horses in the field hear the "caw, caw" of the crows, see the devil at the wheel y'all, Judas, Judas, Judas, Judas. Go on down to Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Florida Louisiana and Tennessee, Georgia, Carolina, Carolina. There's no greater evil than the darkness in your heart. Just Can't Last Well, I know I swear I know your face, I wish I knew your name, I wish I could take you by the hand. If I could name it, if I could just explain it, if I could only help you, help you understand. Well, I can, I can see that you're hurting, weighed down like a beast of burden about to break your back. God only knows that you're human, so what are they trying to do then? Believe me, they don't understand that you have the weight of the world today, it's on your back. A heavy load like that is gonna hold you back, it's gonna drag you down. You know it just can't last, it just can't, you know it just can't last. You know it just can't last, it just can't, you know it just can't last. Well, they thought they could use you, push you down and abuse you and what's so sad. You've decided to hide all your feelings, got more pain than you can deal with but ask yourself, how can this last? I know you have the weight of the world today, it's on your back. A heavy load like that is gonna hold you back, it's gonna drag you down. You know it just can't last, it just can't, you know it just can't last. You know it just can't last, it just can't, you know it just can't last. They don't understand, you know they don't, they don't understand... Not In This Life Oh, lately I've been walking all alone through the wind and through the rain. Been walking through the streets and finding sweet relief in knowing that it won't be long. Oh, lately it's occurred to me that I've had enough of that. And lately I've been satisfied by simple things like breathing in and breathing out. Never again, not in this life will I be taken twice. Never again, never on your life will I make that same mistake, I can't make it twice. Oh, lately it's occurred to me exactly what went wrong. I realized I compromised, I sacrificed far too much for far too long. Never again, no not in this life will I be taken twice. No, no, no, no, never again, never on your life will I make that same mistake, I can't make it twice. Starting out from here today, swear I'm gonna change my way. Once mistaken in this life but never, never, never, never twice. Never again, no not in this life, no, no, no, no will I be taken twice. Never again, never on your life will I make that same mistake, I can't make it twice. No, no, no, no, never again, never on your life gonna make that same mistake, gonna make it twice. Starting out from here today, swear I'm gonna change my way. Swear I'm gonna change my way, gonna change my way. Never again, no never again no never in this life gonna make that same mistake, gonna make it twice. Never again, no never again, no never in this life. I'm Not Gonna Beg I'm not gonna beg you for nothing, I'm not gonna beg you for love. Straight talk, give me the straight talk. Tell me what's on your mind if it ain't love. I'm not gonna beg you for nothing, I'm not gonna beg you for your love. Scared now, what are you scared of? Afraid I might fall on my knees and break down? I'm not gonna beg you for nothing, I'm not gonna beg you for your love. Don't you think you can take me for a pretty little ride. I know "once upon a time" and "ever after" is a lie. I'm not gonna beg you for nothing at all. There's nothing I want from you, nothing you can say or do. There is nothing I want for you to say anyway. I'm not gonna beg you for nothing, I'm not gonna beg you for your love. |