Sunday, September 11, 2016

Vault of lost lyrics, chapter 195


In the late 1990s I saw Sarah Slean at the Sidetrack Cafe, opening for Oh Susanna, aka Suzie Ungerleider. When Oh Susanna took the stage, Ms Slean came back out to accompany her on the piano for this song. It was a staggering performance from both, and the song has always stopped me dead since. It is alt-country at its peak, the recording is gorgeously layered, and this track is meant to be played LOUD. Relish that deep, dooming final note.

**

You’ll Always Be (Oh Susanna)

Well, the first time I saw heaven
you stood in my doorway
Scent of gardenia and lily
By your voice I was led into a forest of cherry
When you lay down beside me so softly you did say

You’ll always be my baby, my baby, my baby, yeah
You’ll always be my baby, my baby, my love

Well, you sure got some funny sense of forever
'Always' did end with the summer
I awoke in a bed that’s as wide as the river
And a voice in my head that softly did say

You’ll always be my baby, my baby, my baby, yeah
Now you’ll always be my baby, my baby, my love

Well, six seasons have weathered 
since you stood in my doorway
Now you’re stinking of blood and hard liquor
And you’ve come for a favour
for your sorry sight to cover
And you still got the nerve to softly do say

You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my baby
You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my love

Now I don’t need no tailor to sew this suit together
Your yarn is a worn-out old tether
And you better button that collar
for you’re going out to pasture
And I’ll be counting the bounty
when softly I will say

You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my baby yeah
You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my love.

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