A Murder Of One

Album: August And Everything After (1993)
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  • Blue morning, blue morning
    Wrapped in strands of fist and bone
    Curiosity, kitten
    Doesn't have to mean you're on your own

    You can look outside your window
    He doesn't have to know
    We can talk a while, baby
    We can take it nice and slow

    All your life is such a shame, shame, shame
    All your love is just a dream, dream, dream

    Well, are you happy where you're sleeping?
    Does he keep you safe and warm?
    Does he tell you when you're sorry?
    Does he tell you when you're wrong?

    Well, I've been watching you for hours
    It's been years since we were born
    We were perfect when we started
    I've been wondering where we've gone

    All your life is such a shame, shame, shame
    All your love is just a dream, dream, dream

    Well, I dreamt I saw you walking
    Up a hillside in the snow
    Casting shadows on the winter sky
    As you stood there counting crows

    One for sorrow, two for joy
    Three for girls, and four for boys
    Five for silver, six for gold
    Seven for a secret never to be told

    But there's a bird that nests inside you
    Sleeping underneath your skin
    Yeah, when you open up your wings to speak
    I wish you'd let me in

    All your life is such a shame, shame, shame
    All your love is just a dream, dream, dream
    Open up your eyes, you can see the flames, flames, flames
    Of your wasted life, you should be ashamed

    Yeah, you don't want to waste your life, baby
    You don't wanna waste your life now, darling
    You don't wanna waste your life, baby
    You don't wanna waste your life now, darling

    Oh, you don't wanna waste your life now, babe
    I said, you don't wanna waste your life now, darling
    Oh, you don't wanna waste your life now, baby
    Oh, you don't wanna
    You don't wanna waste your life now, darling
    Change, change, change
    Change, change, change
    Change, change, change

    I walk along these hillsides
    In the summer 'neath the sunshine
    I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me
    I said, I walk along these hillsides
    In the summer 'neath the sunshine
    I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me

    I said, I will walk along these hillsides
    In the summer 'neath the sunshine
    I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me
    I said, I will walk along these hillsides
    In the summer 'neath the sunshine
    I am feathered by the moonlight

    Change, change, change
    Change, change, change
    Change, change, change

    Oh, change, change, change
    Oh, change, change, change
    Oh, change, change, change
    Change, change, change change
    Change, change, change, change, change Writer/s: Adam Fredric Duritz, Ben G Mize, Charles Thomas Gillingham, Daniel John Vickrey, David Lynn Bryson, Matthew Mark Malley, Steve Bowman
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • A Wee Birdie from Communist CanadaFantastic song. Got to wonder if something interesting happened during the writing. A crow is of course a representation of the powers of darkness. The song feels like it's written from the point of view of The Holy Spirt ( another bird of a different feather - A dove ). I'm not the first to notice.
  • Tricia from Stafford, VaAt a concert back in 95 Adam actually said that he wrote this song for his sister :)
  • April from Nashville, TnOn A&E's "Breakfest with the Arts" Adam claimed to be very good friends with Mary Louise-Parker, who was in a small movie in which she says something to the effect of "Are you just going to stand here counting crows?" So that is where he drew inspiration for the name.
  • Rainking from Chicago, IlQuite an amazing song. Live versions are best. It's not mainly about Adam. It's about that other girl in a relationship he sees as flawed. He seems to genuinely think so, although it could come across as a jealous attack on her boyfriend. My favorite version is when Adam pleads "Don't waste your life, the way I waste my life." To me, he's begging his love to break free of the abusive relationship she's in, which almost mirrors the abusive obsession he has with her. At it's heart, it's about how sad he's become and how much he wants her to change. He's useless and alone without the girl he loves, but only from afar.
  • Larry from Chicago, Il"A Murder of One" is basically a description of unity amongst a Murder (flock) of Crows.
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