Joanna Newsom – Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie

That means no where I come from.
I am cold, and waiting for the day to come.

I chew my lips, oh and I scratch my nose:
feels so good to be a rose.

Oh don’t, don’t you lift me up
like I’m that shy, no no no no no,
just give it up —
See there are bats all dissolving in a row
into the wishy-washy dark that can not let go.
I can not let go,
so I thank the lord, and I thank his sword!
‘tho it be mincing up the morning,
slightly bored

O, morning without warning like a hole,
O, and I watch you go.

There are some mornings
when the sky looks like a road.
There are some dragons
who were built to have and hold.
And some machines
are dropped from great heights lovingly.
And some great bellies ache with many bumblebees.
And they sting so terribly.

I do as I please.
Now I’m on my knees.
And your skin is something that I stir into my tea.
And I am watching you
And you are starry, starry, starry
And I’m tumbling down, and I check a frown.
That’s why I love this town.
Well, just look around
to see me serenaded hourly and
celebrated sourly and dedicated dourly
and waltzing with the open sea —

clam, crab, cockle, cowrie:
will you just look at me?