Show me your stripes
Said the zebra to
The wicked spider
In the morning dew
I will provide
For you shelter and wine
If you can prove
That you are of my kind"
O ho Maria!
I'd break my wooden bones for you
You took my crystal heart
And shook it through and through
O ho Maria!
You broke my brittle bones in two
You shook your silver hair
And sent me to the moon
And then the spider
Turned onto its back
Displayed the colors
In three neat tracks
And said, when we go
We go alone
And so they crossed
The windy field
The spider provided
By the zebra's heels
And every bird
From above did cry
You will be bitten boy
And you'll surely die
O ho Maria!
I'd break my wooden bones for you
You took my crystal heart
And shook it through and through
O ho Maria!
You broke my brittle bones in two
You shook your silver hair
And sent me to the moon
We may be different
Two sides of the same fence
You bring your elegance
And me my dumb strength
You were so kind to me
Beneath the willow trees
You took my hand in yours
And I got down on my knees
They said I couldn't see it clear
They said that it would disappear
But when they came and sang their sermon
It fell upon deaf ears
Because I see but I cannot hear
And I feel but I cannot fear
And I know you to be true
When I saw you first come near
O ho Maria!
I'd break my wooden bones for you
You took my crystal heart
And shook it through and through
O ho Maria!
You broke my brittle bones in two
You shook your silver hair
And sent me to the moon
O ho Maria!
I'd do it all again for you
Said the zebra to
The wicked spider
In the morning dew
I will provide
For you shelter and wine
If you can prove
That you are of my kind"
I'd break my wooden bones for you
You took my crystal heart
And shook it through and through
O ho Maria!
You broke my brittle bones in two
You shook your silver hair
And sent me to the moon
Turned onto its back
Displayed the colors
In three neat tracks
And said, when we go
We go alone
The windy field
The spider provided
By the zebra's heels
And every bird
From above did cry
You will be bitten boy
And you'll surely die
I'd break my wooden bones for you
You took my crystal heart
And shook it through and through
O ho Maria!
You broke my brittle bones in two
You shook your silver hair
And sent me to the moon
Two sides of the same fence
You bring your elegance
And me my dumb strength
Beneath the willow trees
You took my hand in yours
And I got down on my knees
They said that it would disappear
But when they came and sang their sermon
It fell upon deaf ears
And I feel but I cannot fear
And I know you to be true
When I saw you first come near
I'd break my wooden bones for you
You took my crystal heart
And shook it through and through
O ho Maria!
You broke my brittle bones in two
You shook your silver hair
And sent me to the moon
O ho Maria!
I'd do it all again for you
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I love the reference to the spider and the zebra, I only wish he had continued it through out the song.
I liked that reference too, but I think he left out the end on purpose, when I think about it more. I mean, we all know how the story is likely to end, but he doesn't actually tell us. Obviously it's a metaphor for his relationship with Maria; they are two totally opposite people, but in another way they are very similar, and he believes that they can bond over the little they have in common and complement one another with everything else. Everyone warns him about her, that she'll break his heart and so forth, their love will disappear, etc... but he believes he knows her (that she's "of his kind") and SURELY this will totally go well!! How could it not? I think he left out the end of the story (in both cases) on purpose because he doesn't want to say "this type of situation can only go one way." Instead, he leaves us hanging, knowing it probably all went to hell, but keeping alive the hope for that tiny chance it worked out.
Simple song but terribly good. Yeah, I'm with you angrypuppy, he leaves the story hangin because don't we all have the same deaf ears when we've found someone who might not be of "our kind?"
Simple song but terribly good. Yeah, I'm with you angrypuppy, he leaves the story hangin because don't we all have the same deaf ears when we've found someone who might not be of "our kind?"