As the bell tower blocks the summer light
All the seeds in our garden fight
To break and blossom, all to be adored
And look, your skirt is torn
And there's blood on our sheets
As comes the long arm of the law
Fist tight, banging on the door
And knocking me down on its way in

As I pass out into a dream
Of whooping cranes and wooden beams
Great white wings beating
In an attic, in a house, in the dead of night
Singing

Oh, my Augustine, Augustine
Oh, is this forever, ever?
Oh, oh
Sweet Augustine, Augustine
What does this mean for us?

Does it mean that I can never change my ways?
And that's why, love, you shouldn't stay
Still you will and love me
Like a mother or a maid bringing you down, down
Down on your brazen knees
Watering the worms and the weeds
Thinking, why does love leave me so damn cold?
Now I'm getting old
And is this what it should be?
Well, is it?

Oh, my Augustine, Augustine.
Oh, is this forever, ever?
Oh, oh
Sweet Augustine, Augustine
Or do we kill this one tonight?

And now come the tears, heavy and hot
As it comes clear, this is all we got
As I hold you to my bed
Like a cancer, or a curse
Now be my loving nurse
As we fall back into the impossible dream



Lyrics submitted by hocuspocus

Augustine Lyrics as written by Patrick Wolf

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Augustine song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is so perfect.

    plasticskieson June 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I got these lyrics from this --> youtube.com/watch= video. I'm pretty sure they're all right, except a few words I couldn't really catch. And, this song is wicked awesome. I love when he does the "Oh"s. He's so great!

    hocuspocuson December 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    augustine is probably one of my favorite songs. his voice sounds like wind and dark and it is unbelievable.

    slinkstersarson December 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is gorgeous. It makes me feel like I'm the only person in the world.

    airfix-fighteron January 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Those lyrics are wrong. It's "the long arm of the law", not lowman. And "knocking me down on its way in" not weight. And I swear it's "wooden beams", not "woodland beigns". And "summer light" not sunlight.

    But whatever. This is the most beautiful song ever.

    chocodashon January 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song has personal meaning to Patrick, check the latest PodCast.

    fourgangeron February 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    chocodash is right about the lyrics. but yeah it's not important, the song is near perfect.

    in love with it. haven't really gotten used to the new record yet but on first listen it's good.

    and yeah, download the video podcasts.

    luvdon February 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i've watched the video podcasts, i can't find anything about this song. can someone tell me what he said about it?

    stegemreealion July 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song, and it used to make me all warm and fuzzy and wish someone would sing a song like this for me, but then I realised what it's about (or what it might be about). I think it might be from the point of view of an abusive husband.

    Augustineon September 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sorry to burst your bubbles.

    Augustineon September 20, 2007   Link

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