River to Sleep

Mary was a girl as sweet sixteen
So young, so lean
The hour she had planned had finally come
Evil deed that would be done
Her breath smells of cheap and angry gin
Mmm, a drunken grin
She took from the cradle, a young child
So sweet, a life to keep
Down to the river, Mary crept
Ahh, while the townsfolk slept
The cotton dress she wore blazed the night
So bright, in the silver moonlight
Stars shone above her like a guide
She couldn’t hide from the pain inside
She reached the flowing river at ‘past ten
Mmm, too late to mend
She looked at the baby she had born
So sweet, a light so pure
She kissed her on the head on which once
Her quiet friend, this was the end
With strength she didn’t know she even had
She threw it in, oh what a sin
The cries from the water slowly died
Her eyes so wide, at the violent tide
The riverbed, a place to always sleep
Don’t weep, a life to keep
A life to keep
A life to keep