Junior Brother, Maija Sofia - The Wife of Michael Cleary lyrics

I wrapped his wounds in nettle leaves
Around his neck an amulet of rabbit feet
A love as deep as winter sea
When the waves rolled out I was
Left on the beach
And underneath my petticoats of
Cotton and calico
A gypsy heart and a madwoman's soul
So stir your tea leaves and butter your bread
But the wife of Michael Cleary
Won't be home again

That night the rage of thunder
Burned across his chest
As he gathered up his hunters
And rounded up his men
And they searched among the rivers and
The mountains and the glen
But the wife of Michael Cleary
Won't be home again
The stars glint like cleavers
My love it was only a fever
I swear I tried to get clean
But it keeps the bats away and
It keeps the devil nearer

And he would look into my eyes
My two round lapis lazuli
Back in our bed he'd set me alight
And we'd cast the demons out all night
Til they dowsed the flames by the holy well
And the smoke filled up the guilty air
And the village smelt like burning flesh
As the changeling was put to rest
And all the ladies shook their heads
And bit their lips as they softly said
'Oh, the scandal! Oh
The mess! The wife of Cleary must be dead!'

And the moon gaped like an open mouth
As we stood in shock to
Watch the flames die down
My baby's safe now, Liverpool bound
And I'm safe from hell
In the hallowed ground

And the stars glint like cleavers
My love, it was only a fever
I swear I tried to get clean
But it keeps the bats away and
It keeps the devil near