Ribbon Bows Lyrics - Have One On Me - 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.