All Her Life

Kentish rag stone*
Dressed with flint,
Topped with glass,
Broken glass.
Two men high,
One man deep
Are the walls,
Asylum walls.

Through the bars she is singing
Where've you gone, my only son?
But the stars, they're not listening
Turned away, every one.

'You are not wed,
Therefore mad.
Where's your shame?
We took your shame
Far away,
For your own good.
Brand new name,
Secret name.'

Through the bars she is singing
Where've you gone, my only son?
But the stars, they're not listening
Turned away, every one.

'You disgusting,
Dirty girl.
Live with us,
Pray with us.
Close your legs,
Mend your sin.
That's the law,
English law.'

Through the bars she is singing
Where've you gone, my only son?
But the stars, they're not listening
Turned away, every one.

'Soon there'll be man
On the moon,
So they say.
But we say -
Until then,
Here you'll stay.
All your life,
All your life.'

Through the bars she is singing
Where've you gone, my only son?
But the stars, they're not listening
Turned away, every one.