townes van zandt
the hole
The old woman finally caught me Sneakin' 'round her cave Her hair looked just like barbwire, boys And her smile just like the grave She asked me could I stay awhile I said I'd better go She slid her arm around my neck And sweetly whispered no  It's cold and dark and lonely here As soon enough you'll see I'm oh so glad you stumbled in I've been cravin' company I cannot stay too long you know I left some friends at home Don't you fret about your friends Down here we're all alone  What about my mother I can't just leave her there to mourn You don't have to think about her Just forget you were ever born I'll disappoint my father You know he worked so hard for me If you have to pay your father back Just send him some misery  I'll miss, I said, a girl I know I can't just leave there to pine She's still got plenty of men to go I'm sure she'll do just fine What about my little boy She said, he's just like you Let a few short years roll by He'll end up down here too  Then her pale green eyes began to glow She placed her hand on mine She smiled and said don't worry You'll get used to me in time As her cold tongue flickered toward I spun myself around Made a dive for the passageway But the walls come crashing down  Now her eyes were the only light My fevered brain could see But I tore myself away from them And fell down to my knees I've come too far, I can't get back I beseeched the Gods of men Fame and fortune just laughed at me Then silence once again  A whisper deep within Embrace the God of Love I lifted my face and through the tears I saw light fall from above  I hurled myself into the wall I ripped and clawed my way Through the stinkin', clingin' loam Back to the light of day I crawled out into the wind again The sky upon my face I heard the earth sigh patiently As it slid back into place  Now I'm back among the ones I love I'm loved by them in turn And it's only on the darkest night That green eyed memory burns So walk my friends, in the light of day Don't go sneakin' 'round no holes There just might be something down there Wants to gobble up your soul