Have you seen,
walking through the village,
a man with downcast eyes
and haggard face?
That is my husband dear.

My secret cruelty,
never to be told,
robbed me of my youth
and my beauty,
'til at last,
wrinkled and with yellow teeth,
and with broken pride
and shameful humility,
I sank into the grave.

But what
think you
knows that my husband's heart,
the face of what I was,
the face of what
he made me?
These are driving him
to the place where I lie.
In death, therefore,
I am avenged.


Lyrics submitted by theslartibartfast

Ollie McGee song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    it's actually "that is my husband who by secret cruelty..."

    and "what think you gnaws at my husband's heart?"

    this is a poem by Edgar Lee Masters from the Spoon River Anthology, a collection of poems about different people who lived in the fictitious town of Spoon River.
    This song is from the point of view of Ollie McGee, whose husband Fletcher McGee treated her in such a horrible way which the world never knew that she lost her worldly beauty and died. However now Fletcher feels such guilt at ruining his bride that he too is dying. Ollie realises this and proclaims it from the grave.

    battaryacidon April 15, 2005   Link

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