The Ballad of Narcissus

He watched her pass the painted shopfronts
His love walked quietly by
Last years leaves
Scratched the burning asphalt
It was a hot day in July

I took a drink, sometimes you have to
Old Blackbush frees the tethered tongue
The knots untie, the buckles loosen
And marrow fills the hollow song

And They'd filled their nights
With lovers sighs
And love looked shyly on
She laughed and sang
For he was sweet and kind
In those first weeks of July

Now she says his fists turn white with anger
His finger stabs when things go wrong
His minds a maze of snakes and ladders
He fears her love won't last so long

Ah but for too long
She excused his rage
While love passed quietly by
Like the withered leaves
Scratching around her feet
On a hot day in july

No splint could mend this
Broken wing
No Christ to raise what's dead
He'd cry and beg for
Her forgiveness
He swore his love
Would never end

Yes his love was true
So he'd take his life
He spat and called her slut

Your words she scorned
Are just threats and lies
Withered leaves
On a street in July

I took a drink, sometimes you have to
Old Blackbush frees the tethered tongue
The knots untie,the buckles loosen
You see so clearly what was wrong