Who would be a poor man, a beggar-man, a thief
If he had a rich man in his hand?
And who would steal the candy
From a laughing baby's mouth
If he could take it from the money man
Cross-eyed Mary goes jumping in again
She signs no contract but she always plays the game
She dines in Hampstead village on expense accounted gruel
And the jack-knife barber, drops her off at school

Laughing in the playground, gets no kicks from little boys
Would rather make it with a letching grey
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through the railings as they play, hey
Cross-eyed Mary finds it hard to get along
She's a poor man's rich girl and she'll do it for a song
She's a rich man stealer but her favor's good and strong
She's the Robin Hood of Highgate, helps the poor man get along, hey

Laughing in the playground, gets no kicks from little boys
Would rather make it with a letching grey
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through the railings as they play, hey
Cross-eyed Mary goes jumping in again
She signs no contract but she always plays the game
She dines in Hampstead village on expense accounted gruel
And the jack-knife barber, drops her off at school, hey

Cross-eyed Mary
Oh Mary, oh cross-eyed Mary


Lyrics submitted by Motor27

Cross-Eyed Mary Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Cross-Eyed Mary song meanings
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    General Comment

    OMG ....pardon the interuption of lack of analysis. This song is simply about a young lady borne of crossed-eyes of lowest income and self esteem. SHe gives sexual favor to pay her way in life...a sad but real fact when none of us would choice degrading sex over having wealth at our finger tips instead of Aqualungs "willy". She has many seedy friends who help her along a sad life path as she "helps' them get off as needed. Nothing more. Anderson made some of his living out of describing the seedy characters of the impoverished landscape to SHOCK us into buying vinyl. Nothing more.

    ganthony1on May 27, 2002   Link

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