natalie merchant
vain and careless
Lady, lovely lady Careless and gay! Once when a beggar called She gave her child away The beggar took the baby Wrapped it in a shawl "Bring her back, " the lady said "Next time you call " Hard by lived a vain man So vain and so proud He walked on stilts To be seen by the crowd Up above the chimney pots Tall as a mast And all the people ran about Shouting till he passed "A splendid match surely, " Neighbours saw it plain "Although she is so careless Although he is so vain " But the lady played bobcherry Did not see or care As the vain man went by her Aloft in the air This gentle-born couple Lived and died apart Water will not mix with oil Nor vain with careless heart