Lament
1962
MOTHER
They’re bringing me my son, my slain son
They told me they’re bringing him from the creek bed
and I’ve come out to meet him.
Do you know his name?
CHORUS
We know!
MOTHER
Do you know how old he was?
CHORUS
We know!
MOTHER
Do you know how tall he was?
CHORUS
We know how tall he was and how handsome and how good.
MOTHER
When did they see him for the last time?
CHORUS
High on the hill!
Where his heart was he had a bird and it was singing!
And they’re taking him to his friend the sun!
MOTHER
My son was wearing clean clothes,
he changed them this morning before he left.
CHORUS
He knew he was going to a wedding. That he was going to a festival!
MOTHER
The festivals and joys of death.
CHORUS
He was handsome as a tree! Tall as a castle!
Sweet as milk! Calm as death!
MOTHER
My son had some small change in his pockets. I gave it to him last evening.
CHORUS
He knew he was going to drink and have a good time.
MOTHER
The wine and celebrations of death.
CHORUS
He was stronger than life and more righteous than the right.
MOTHER
My son had love; they settled his score this morning.
CHORUS
Today they settled his score because he had so much love!
MOTHER
Do you know how the world will be without my son?
CHORUS
We know.
MOTHER
How will the sun and the day be?
CHORUS
The day a viper and the sun pain and the world an incurable wound.
MOTHER
They’re bringing me my slain son.
They told me they were bringing him from the creek bed.
I couldn’t bear to go any further.
Do you know his name?
CHORUS
Jesus
MOTHER
Do you know his name?
CHORUS
Petros, Hans, Yuri and Liu Tse!
He tied the sun to the end of a string and played with it like a kite.
MOTHER
But is it true? My boy was poor. He didn’t know how to read.
CHORUS
A, B, C, D,
He’ll learn the alphabet now, counting the stars
taking the bullets out of his skin.
MOTHER
Bullets, my sweet bullets,
go sweetly into his flesh.
Don’t hurt him too much.
Go gently, so he won’t notice you and wake.
Lament
MOTHER
They’re bringing me my son, my slain son
They told me they’re bringing him from the creek bed
and I’ve come out to meet him.
Do you know his name?
CHORUS
We know!
MOTHER
Do you know how old he was?
CHORUS
We know!
MOTHER
Do you know how tall he was?
CHORUS
We know how tall he was and how handsome and how good.
MOTHER
When did they see him for the last time?
CHORUS
High on the hill!
Where his heart was he had a bird and it was singing!
And they’re taking him to his friend the sun!
MOTHER
My son was wearing clean clothes,
he changed them this morning before he left.
CHORUS
He knew he was going to a wedding. That he was going to a festival!
MOTHER
The festivals and joys of death.
CHORUS
He was handsome as a tree! Tall as a castle!
Sweet as milk! Calm as death!
MOTHER
My son had some small change in his pockets. I gave it to him last evening.
CHORUS
He knew he was going to drink and have a good time.
MOTHER
The wine and celebrations of death.
CHORUS
He was stronger than life and more righteous than the right.
MOTHER
My son had love; they settled his score this morning.
CHORUS
Today they settled his score because he had so much love!
MOTHER
Do you know how the world will be without my son?
CHORUS
We know.
MOTHER
How will the sun and the day be?
CHORUS
The day a viper and the sun pain and the world an incurable wound.
MOTHER
They’re bringing me my slain son.
They told me they were bringing him from the creek bed.
I couldn’t bear to go any further.
Do you know his name?
CHORUS
Jesus
MOTHER
Do you know his name?
CHORUS
Petros, Hans, Yuri and Liu Tse!
He tied the sun to the end of a string and played with it like a kite.
MOTHER
But is it true? My boy was poor. He didn’t know how to read.
CHORUS
A, B, C, D,
He’ll learn the alphabet now, counting the stars
taking the bullets out of his skin.
MOTHER
Bullets, my sweet bullets,
go sweetly into his flesh.
Don’t hurt him too much.
Go gently, so he won’t notice you and wake.
