The Wife Of Michael Cleary

Lyrics for The Wife Of Michael Cleary

I wrapped his wounds in nettle leaves Around his neck an amulet of rabbit feet A love as deep as winter sea When the waves rolled out I was left on the beach And underneath my petticoats of cotton and calico A gypsy heart and a madwoman's soul So stir your tea leaves and butter your bread But the wife of Michael Cleary won't be home again That night the rage of thunder burned across his chest As he gathered up his hunters and rounded up his men And they searched among the rivers And the mountains and the glens But the wife of Michael Cleary won't be home again And the stars glint like cleavers My love, it was only a fever I swear I tried to get clean But it keeps the bats away And it keeps the devil nearer And he would look into my eyes My two round lapis lazuli Back in our bed he'd set me alight And we'd cast the demons out all night Till they dowsed the flames by the holy well And the smoke filled up the guilty air And the village smelt like burning flesh As the changeling was put to rest And all the ladies shook their heads Bit their lips as they softly said: "Oh, the scandal! Oh, the mess! The wife of Cleary must be dead!" And the moon gaped like an open mouth As they stood in shock to watch the flames die down My baby's safe now, Liverpool bound And I'm safe from hell in the hallowed ground And the stars glint like cleavers My love, it was nearly a fever I swear I tried to get clean But it keeps the bats away And it keeps the devil near