The Believers
[Jarboe]
the believers dance in front of the altar
the believers strip their clothes
the believers give their bodies
the believers for Her glory sacrifice their own daughters
the believers chant her name
they place flowers at her feet
the believers drink her blood
the believers: lambs to the slaughter
sacred words they hear the sacred words
they feel they feel the sacred touch the touch the touch the
sacred words they hear the sacred words
they feel they feel the sacred touch the touch the touch the…
in a trance the priestess has fallen
possessed, no longer herself
the priestess became the goddess
vain goddess of the sea risen
she is an expression of their nameless hunger
she is an expression of both good and evil
she’s become the mother of their nameless hunger
sacred words they hear the sacred words
they feel they feel the sacred touch the touch the touch
and they who’ve laid down their weapons
are no longer soldiers
but have become all the drowned children
who feel no pain
they reveal treasures hidden on the bottom
of the sea for centuries
and three blind men will wander
cains above their abel heads through eternity…
blind men all in a line who’ll never see
will wander wander aimlessly
they are blindmen, they’ll never see
they will travel blind through eternity
CRIES
[Jarboe]
You can hear them out there
They’re gonna follow you down
On the rocks, in the air
Inside your mind they made you scared
Of all the lies that have been told
Of all the hearts that have been sold
Of all the tears that have been disowned
Those cries are gonna swallow up the seeds you have sown
So hold on and make it last
Hold on for your last holy breath
Hold on for your faith, it has lapsed
Those cries like an acid they will eat through your mask
Those cries like a hammer they will nail down your past
Those cries gonna swallow up your last dying gasp
You can hear them out there
They come inside and ride you slow
They come inside where they will grow
Without a hope without a dream
Without anything
Without a demon to turn the key
Of all the lies now that have been told
Of all the hearts now that have been sold
Of all the tears that have been disowned
Those cries are gonna swallow up the seeds you have sown
Those cries gonna getcha chill you down to the bone
Those cries like an acid they will eat through your mask
Those cries gonna swallow up your last dying gasp
So hear them now all the dead-eyed souls
Who’ve spent their lives and just grown old
So hear the cries from the dead-eyed souls
Who’ve spent their lives now they’re turning cold
FREEDOM
[lyrics by Michael Gira]
freedom, my freedom
freedom, get off my back
freedom, freedom
i don’t want your love
i don’t want your pity
i don’t want your body
i don’t want your mouth
i don’t want your violence
i don’t want your mind
i don’t want your weakness
i don’t want what you need
freedom, my freedom
freedom, freedom
i don’t want it
i don’t want your love
i don’t want your pity
i don’t want your body
i don’t want your mouth
i don’t want your violence
i don’t want it, don’t want it
i don’t want it
I GOT A GUN
[lyrics by Michael Gira]
i got a gun
i got a gun
i got a house
you can’t come in
i got a gun
i won’t stop until i get what i want
keep yourself in your own world
your affection’s worth nothing to me
i won’t stop until i get what i want
i got a gun
i got a gun
i got a house
you can’t come in
i got a gun
your money means nothing to me
LISTEN
[Jarboe]
death-like in her pallor
silver spiders in the parlor glisten
come into me, listen
we’ll open up our wounds
kill the devil moon
come into me, listen
am i what you see
is this what is me
come into me, listen
a diamond in the rough
a heart torn off the cuff
you wore it on your sleeve
now come into me
her heart was all she owned
her body worn down to the bone
for she gave herself away
on every money day
yes she took her “payn” in style
for she was saturn’s child
come into me, listen
so look at my face
draw a mask
white circles on the sun
look at my face
draw a mask
white circles: its begun
hollow your mind
watch yourself die
come into me, listen
come into me, listen
come into me, listening
THE LONELY VOYEUR
[Jarboe]
deceptive eyes azure
and black as his heart, they do lie as they lure
go with him down and the chain will follow
unto the ends of earth now, his pain will swallow you
down down as he buries your face
down and down, his kiss sears with a trace
of the sign of the cross you’ll believe now you’re lost
of the sign, of the sign, of the sign of the cross…
so don’t walk this red river
drink the blood from the cup
don’t swim this red water
for it’s sad and corrupt, ahhhhhh
deceptive eyes azure
and black as his heart, they do lie as they lure
follow him down unto the ends of the earth
don’t let him touch you-his cruel dead mirth
the prophesy of his words will haunt you (they hunt you down)
the prophesy of his words will taunt you (they hurt you now)
the prophesy of his words will haunt you (they hunt you down)
the prophesy of these words the prophesy of these words
so don’t walk this red river
drink the blood from the cup
don’t swim this red water
for it’s sad and corrupt, ahhhhhh
deceptive eyes azure
and black as his heart, they will lie as they lure
go with him down and the chain will follow
unto the ends of the earth now his pain
will swallow you down
(yes open your arms wide, my dear, and spread them)
open your legs wide, and welcome in
to the deep black hole through eyes azure
the deep black soul of a lonely voyeur
“in the name of the father, the son, & the holy ghost”
MAN OF HATE
[Jarboe]
take pity, please, lord misery
how shiny your throne as you view the stage
oh majesty, you flatter –
see before you o’this our humble play
applaud the dance – such innocence
before you, have mercy a man of hate
we sing for thee, lady destiny
how bloody our knees as we kiss your name
oh can it be, kind blasphemy
anoint, pray, your servants, offering
this innocence, such innocence
before you have mercy a man of hate
we claim it’s not our fault
we’re actors in our guilty mission
for shame is in the thought
not our pretty submission:
“reveal my good confession what i hope to gain
i admit to grand obsession breathing in my veins”
watch lovers there pull out their hair
so slowly to rise toward the sky
one plucks feathers from wings leather
his luck is decreed from angel cain
it’s not too late – open the ruby gate
show mercy before this man of hate
thus is our tale of woe and wail
we tried to enact so faithfully
but humankind so frail is blind
our failings do fall as the ax does swing
oh innocence, bleed innocence
tormented, behold we’re all men of hate
plead innocence, such innocence…
“behold, i’m a man of hate.”
NEVER DESERTING SHADOW
[Jarboe]
“give me your promise baby tell me true
give me your promise i will love you
give me your promise baby make it tonight
give me your promise tell me you’re mine”
superficiality comes in easily
protect now the inner sanctum
alone with myself i barely recognize
reasons for this occurrence
and for this demise
superficiality comes in easily
protect now the inner sanctum
but if with a mind that is calm and clean
with him does bliss follow
mind is supreme all is creation of mind
like the never-deserting shadow
“how many times will i ask this of you baby
how will i make myself clear to you baby
how many prayers will i offer tonight baby
through the soft veil of these hot lonely tears
baby ooooh…”
the never-deserting shadow
the never-deserting shadow
“give me your promise baby oooh tell me true
give me your promise i will love you
give me your promise baby make it tonight
give me your promise tell me you’re mine”
oooh the shadow, the never-deserting shadow
the never-deserting shadow
(jarboe) *w.apologies to Dhamapada*
THE OBLIVION SEEKERS
[Jarboe]
as far as the eye can see heat is rising off the sand
somewhere out on this holy land time once
was held in their hands
but it bleeds now down the mountain red to the river bank
where they burn their dead
and it sinks deep in the blackest sea
to a bed of ancient memory-
the incense is sweet fills the air this night: lulls you to sleep
the past and the future are here in this fever
from the cold star that makes no sound
a cruel poison comes down as we bathe nude
in the wind, metallic blue becomes our skin
strange is the magic
the waters make no sound
strange is the magic
we lay our bodies down
love dark and tragic
we lay upon the ground
love is the magic
now we spiral round
we drink the waters
filled with delight
the past and the future
closed to our sight
no need for the wisdom
words from the sages
for here is oblivion
come down through the ages
you don’t come to this place on your own
you’re born to this pain it’s your home
it’s useless they say to run and hide
you know it’s useless they pay who stay and fight
we didn’t come here of our own volition
it’s prophesy, apathetic contrition
and we didn’t come here of a free will
to grip a silent unknown fear then lay quite still
we close our eyes, turn our face
close our mind now go away
shut your eyes and turn away
you’ve closed your mind but it’s here to stay
in the flickering blue century
the blue eternity
blue bombs explode on the screen
blue arms outstretched as they plead
see the cold star, it makes no sound, poison comes down
it sinks in the black sea: a bed of ancient memory
IN AN OPEN SEA
[lyrics by Michael Gira released as No Cruel Angel but originally authored for In An Open Sea with music composed by Jarboe]
the bridge is long and narrow
the hills are burned by sorrow
the black crow died of blackness
the moon gave up his madness
but when two hearts like ours return
to the open sea
no arm can pull us down
no angel beneath the water
can ever pull us under
some eyes can seal no secrets
but time erodes a surface
a snake swims the ocean
in an earth that turns for no one
but when two minds like ours dream
in an open sea
no steel door can close us in
no cruel angel at the gate
will ever seal our fate
the bridge is long and narrow
the hills drown in sorrow
the black crow died of blackness
the moon gave up his madness
but when two hearts like ours return
to the open sea
but when two minds like ours dream
in an open sea
no cruel arm can pull us down
no steel door can close us in
no angel beneath the water
will ever take us under
in an open sea
we’re in an open sea
in an open sea
RED [recording produced and mixed by Jim Thirlwell aka“Foetus”]
[Jarboe]
red is the color, there’s no other,
red velvet, tap your veins
red is the color, red is the lover,
red as drippin’ stains,
red as the lips the wet tongue licks,
red as the eyes that weep,
mmm the bridegroom’s red-devil cake, red as love,
red as hate, red as anger, red as rage.
red as playin’ games,
red as comin’ home, red as poppies, fire and pain,
red as you and she, red as ecstasy, red as racing cars,
clinic cards, Nirvana.[reference to the band]
red as a rose, a barfly’s nose,
back Alabama roads [reference to history of murder/lynching], the Grand Wizard’s robes [reference to history of murder/lynching by that hate group].
red as China [reference to Communist China],
rubies, leather bridles, stirrups,
red as sticky gooey syrup.
red as caviar, Mars, red as hell [reference to the fires of hell], Red Stripe [reference to the Jamaican beer], life, red as Jack the Ripper’s surgical knife. [reference to the serial killer].
red as cherry, power, armies, jelly,
red as ‘Kahlo’s Birth’ [reference to artist Frida Kahlo’s bloody painting entitled “My Birth”], mud, sand and dirt.
red magenta, Georgia clay, placenta,
“red & black – venom lack”, red as snakes – i’m crawlin, down your back.
red as a clown, ‘Circus Mort [reference to Michael Gira’s pre-Swans band] , red as your way out [reference to red-lit Exit signs] , red abort, red as pleasure, traitor, red flavor, red as ‘Walls’ [reference to Jarboe’s pre-Swans horrifying audio performance piece entitled “Walls Are Bleeding” ] , smog, red silos, red stone, red sheets, read Keats [the poet] , red sunset, nuclear accident.
red sleep, red wings, red emergency,
red candles, insects, trance, cannibals, red sea, pussy, red shock, executioner’s block.
red as laughter, red slaughter eaten by carrion, Sharon / Bateman [reference to Sharon Tate who was murdered by the Manson Family and simultaneously the character of serial killer Bateman in the novel ‘American Psycho’], fate, and Al’s hair [reference to Swans band member’s hair color] , red sardonyx, red fingernails,
lil’ Red Ridin’ Hood, Matador, crucifix, red is good, red as red, red as stop, red as stop read as stop, red prick.
red as Party[reference to political party whether Communist or Republican or etc] , sacred altars, Lola’s dress, rubber halters.
red as war, red Xmas, red as a temple, red as your next meal [reference to meat-eaters/hunters].
red prostitutes, red preachers’ suits, red mama’s boots, red alert, red sex, red dessert, red hex.
red as crimson, scarlet, vermillion, red cactus,
a virgin’s mattress.
red as sin, red as ink in Ted and Norman’s
skin [reference to tattoos of Swans band members].
red candy, toys, red box,
munition, red as flesh whipped
into submission.
red as the Wounds of Christ,
Bluebeard’s wife [reference to Bluebeard’s Castle and his wives’ incarceration in a bloody chamber], red as meat is, red as Foetus. [reference to freckled skin and hair of JG Thirlwell].
…. .
* NOTE : the “better red….. refrain in the song is a play on words of the expression “better dead than red” and also references a Cold War slogan claiming that a communist society is preferable to the prospect of nuclear war.
red as an idea: Dec. 30, 1922 – Dec. 26, 1991 [reference to the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR ratified and terminated]
SHOTGUN ROAD ( REDEMPTION )
[Jarboe]
“There’s no redemption in the sky tonight. It’s raining down.”
Here is the bleeding heart.
Remember she once declared
Now she just plays her part
Deadly game of solitaire
And you may have traded places
Moved in for the kill
Yes, traded faces
But you can never break her will
Is it my life now? Someone lived it before
like mirrors reflecting but never opening doors
Is it my life now? Finally up to me?
Is it my life now? I give up purity
There’s no redemption in those arms tonight
So c’mon take up your rifle aim it low
No redemption in the stars so bright
So lead me down the road
She left an empty space
Is it me you will save
They say she left her bed in haste
Like screams from a livid grave
And I don’t see attraction from within your eyes
But I don’t need that satisfaction
So just keep telling me those lies
Is it my life now? Someone lived it before
like mirrors reflecting but never opening doors
Is it my life now? Finally up to me?
Well the mirrors, they shatter
The doors are all opening
There’s no redemption in those arms so tight
So c’mon take up your rifle aim it slow
Better arm yourself now from the stars so white
It’s raining down the road
WOODEN IDOLS
[Jarboe]
she could tell you right now
she could hold you near
she could tell you right now
but she couldn’t shake your fear
for this is not your answer
still you gamble the loss
she was the devil’s daughter
but now she carries a cross.
she suffered wooden idols
she won’t take them up again
she suffered wooden idols
they’re like a promise whispered in the wind
you’re walkin’ down that lonely highway
but you know how to believe
just got to have her hold you that way
’til your tears she will receive
still you wander on and on for miles
‘cos you just can’t shake your beast
even as she gives you her tender smile
your endless searching will never cease
you suffer wooden idols
but take them up again
you suffer wooden idols
they’re like a promise broken in the wind