Ribbon Bows

[Verse 1]
There is a spring not far from here
The water runs both sweet and clear
Both sweet and clear and cold
Could crack your bones with veins of gold

[Verse 2]
I stood, a-wagging at the tap
Just a-waiting on the lagging, rising sap
I held the cold tin ladle to my lip
At the Shrine of the Thousand Arms, I lowered my eyes to sip

[Chorus 1]
What a beautiful day to catch my drift or be caught up in it
You want your love, love?
Come and get your love
I only took it back because I thought you didn't

[Verse 3]
How my ears did ring at the municipal pound
From that old hangdog to which I was bound
Curled 'round the bottom rung, doesn't nobody want you?
Well, come on, darlin', I could use someone like you around

[Verse 4]
I am not like you, I ain't from this place
And I do reserve the right to repeat all my same mistakes
And in the night, like you, I certainly bite and chew
What I can find and never seem to lose the taste

[Chorus 2]
What a horrible face I feel me make
For Pete's sake, what you have told me, I cannot erase
(Though I keep on saying
And I do believe it is not too late)

[Bridge]
All day, you're hassling me with trifles
Black nose of the dog as cold as a rifle
Indicating, with a nudge, God, no God, God, no God
Sweet appraising eye of the dog
Blink once if God, twice if no God

[Outro]
My mama may be ashamed of me
With all of my finery
Carrying on, whooping it up 'til the early morn
Lost and 'lorn among the madding revelry
Sure, I can pass, honey, I can pass
Particularly when I start to tip my glass
I'll be a sport and have a go at that old song
Singing unabashed, 'bout them city girls
With their ribbon bows and their fancy sas'
But, though I get so sad, could swear the night
Makes a motion to claim me around that second verse
I reckon I've felt worse
And still held fast
But, later on, when I am alone, alone at last
Well, I take my god to task
I take my daggone god to task