Verdi Cries

Album: In My Tribe (1987)
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  • The man in one nineteen takes his tea all alone.
    Mornings we all rise to wireless Verdi cries.
    I'm hearing opera through the door.
    The souls of men and women, impassioned all.
    Their voices climb and fall; battle trumpets call.
    I fill the bath and climb inside, singing.

    He will not touch their pastry
    But every day they bring him more.
    Gold from the breakfast tray, I steal them all away
    And then go and eat them on the shore.

    I draw a jackal-headed woman in the sand,
    Sing of a lover's fate sealed by jealous hate
    Then wash my hand in the sea.
    With just three days more I'd have just about learned the entire score to Aida.

    Holidays must end as you know.
    All is memory taken home with me:
    The opera, the stolen tea, the sand drawing, the verging sea, all years ago. Writer/s: NATALIE MERCHANT
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • AnonymousThis song never fails to stop me in my tracks due to its sheer beauty and honesty. Seeing her play the piano answers the questions of who it was who played it on the recording. Great stuff and undoubtedly my favorite track by the band.
  • Aty from UsaHas Ms. Merchant ever commented on whether the gentleman left the pastries because he didn't want them, or knew she would take them?
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