Beautifully Sewn, Violently Torn

Screen door blowin' in the wind that's
dryin' up the blood on the ol' wood floor,
Dead-man's shadow's still dancin' from
a 40-watt bulb swingin' back and forth,
Record is skippin' in the middle of Son
House singin' 'bout an old death-letter,
Little Ellie Mae's still cryin' in the
corner, sayin' "daddy should've known much better"

Ol' dirty washtub
Won't getcha' clean enough
Sinnin' from the day you're born
Beautifully sewn, violently torn

Ellie Mae's life is like an ol' carney
ride gone wild and shakin' off the tracks
Mama's in the kitchen ain't hearin' what she
heard, and takin' comfort from a bottle in a sack
What she can't figure is if you're still
sinnin', how can you ever call yourself saved?
She's singin' "knick-knack, paddy-whack,
a broken glass of cognac,
I bet he can't hurt me from the grave"

Big bad wolf in pretty sheep's skin
showed his teeth when he took to the drink,
Little bitty girl is capable of
terrible things when she's pushed to the brink,
Some folks are just victims of the
times, and some from their own wicked ways
But now the law is at the front door
Ellie's out the back door
Mama hangs her head in shame

Hush, Ellie Mae
You're safe and sound
Daddy won't be showin' his face around
He's gone to join ol' death for tea
He gonna tell him about the little girl who grew big teeth