Heron Blue

"Heron Blue" by Sun Kil Moon

don't cry my love
don't cry no more
a crashing sky, a roaring scream
a city drowned in god's black tears
i cannot bear to see you

she lay under the midnight moon
her restless body stirring
until the magic morning hour
like poison, it succumbs her

her baby skin, her old black dress
hair twists round her necklace
constricts and chokes like ruthless vines
til sleep, she overtakes her

her room is painted heron blue
lit by candlelight and chandelier
and from her headboard perched so high
a million dreams have passed her

don't cry my love
don't cry no more
it overwhelms my breaking heart
her mind a swell of violins
i cannot bear to hear them

a mother shepherds her young birds
she fills their mouths and warms their souls
til they are strong and good to fly
away from her, alone she'll die

cradled on quiet old oak limb
as heaven blew her light fell in
a breath of soot into her lungs
a life a journey's end in one

don't sing that old sad hymn no more
it resonates inside my soul
it haunts me in my waking dreams
i cannot bear to hear it

don't play those violins no more
their melancholic overtones
they echo off the floor and moan
i cannot bear to hear them