Long Before

Long before what is black was blackened

O, long before

Blooms of gray made mother lovely

Mother ain't lovely no more

And long before the house was leaning

O, long before

The corridor of box woods lined the entrance

Box woods ain't there no more

Dad burned the box woods

And like to burned the house

But one came wandering and beat daddy down

O, long before

Long before this road seemed knotted

O, long before

There was but one path dim and cozy

Path don't seem to be no more

And long before you were my sister

O, long before

Gals in town they called me mister

Ain't no girl call on me no more

I cut the card loosewise

Were you not my only dream?

Give the hero his house

He and ma live in sin

O, long before

And long before you were an artwork

O, long before

Mama suckled you on her holy breast

Mama's breast ain't holy no more

Long before we shared a shortsheet

O, long before

I stood above you as you slept

I don't stand above no more

We won little mobile

And won filthy path

And will drift along tongueless unhappiness at last

Will last

And last

Till we see fit to stand before

That virgin cunt, that sainted whore

Whose piss we have slept under

Whose smell we have bore

Is her heelprint that marks our faces?

O, long before