Lyrics 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, about
"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 I've felt worse,
And still held fast.
But, later on, when I am alone,
Alone at last,
Then I take my god to task.
I take my god to task.