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