Mama, hold your darling close, he’s dying of an overdose
See his dear eyes as they break, drown his body in the lake
Mama, now your baby weeps as the cancer in her creeps
Feel her throb in her last fight, feed her to the dogs tonight


Life is walking hand in hand
You’re not yet meant to understand


Mama, oint your sugar’s skin, the inflammation feeds on him
Soon prey and feast for tick and louse, burn what’s left behind the house
Mama, hear your pumpkin’s tale: far from home she starved in jail
With her bones this box is brimmed, now give the ashes to the wind


Life’s a walk through wonderland
Led by the power underhand


Mama, paint your loving face, white on white where tear-falls chase
Your blackened dress becomes you well, your wedding chime: the mourning bell
Pace the aisle betwixt the graves – Sorrow pale, the best man, waves
Mama, you may kiss the groom, your children’s father: Death, all’s doom


Death’s a walk, hand in hand
Joined by th’eternal wedding band



We dance the dance we all must dance
in circles round and round
In Saint Vitus’ frightful trance
as drums and tabors pound
Forward, backward and askance
in our fitful fray
We dance the dance we all must dance
– on our sabbath day
On our sabbath day