Get all 11 The Maledictions releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Xmas In September, Shallow Graves, Taking Up Serpents, Bury Me Sweet Ghost, The Missing Song, TORCH SONGS, Book of John, BACK IN THE SWING, and 3 more.
1. |
Willow O Willow
03:22
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The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree
With his hand upon his bosom and his head upon his knee
He sighed in his singing and made a great moan
I'm dead to all pleasure my true love has gone
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
The bluebird sat by him made tame by his moans
The true tears that fell from him would have melted the stones
Come all you forsaken and mourn you with me
Who speaks of a false love? Mine's falser than she
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
I'll no more boast of her in palace or bower
Love buds but it blasteth ere it be a wildflower
Through fair and more false I die of my wound
Under this willow and a blood red moon
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
Let nobody chide her, her scorn I approve
She was born to be false and more false did I prove
Take this for my farewell and latest adieu
Write this on my tomb, "My love, it was true"
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
Willow o willow
Willow o woe
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2. |
Jellon Graham
05:13
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Well Jellon Graham was the fucking man
And he knocked up Rosy Flower
And he hid in the woods wringing his hands
Hour after hour
"If word get out a babe be born, her pa and all her kin
Will hang me in the early morn as surely as I've sinned"
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
So Jellon sent his servant boy to fetch that Rosy fair
While he stayed behind in the wood tearing out his hair
When Rosy finally arrived, the babe was soon to drop
So Jellon grabbed a nearby ax and gave her head a chop
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
No pity did Jellon feel for Rosy as he dug
Yet pity he felt for the unborn babe smothering in her blood
He cut the babe from her corpse and washed it in the stream
And took it home to his wife saying it was some found changeling
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Well Jellon raised the boy and sat him on his knee
And he learned in one year's time what others do in three
He taught the boy to shoot a bow and how to use a knife
And he learned in one year's time what others do in five
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
It fell out in the summertime when they were hunting game
They came to rest in the wood where Rosy Flower was slain
Well Rosy Flower was a witch and she ran the local coven
And she fucked the devil long and hard and he put a little bun in her oven
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
"I wonder why," the boy did say, "All the wood is green
Except for that spot yonder neath that dead oak tree
I know why Jellon Graham my mother never heard my cry
For there's the place you laid her low and left her soul to die"
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Well the lad took an arrow that was keen and sharp
And he drew it to his cheek and pierced cruel Jellon's heart
"Lie there lie there Jellon Graham a grave you'll never see
The place where my mother lies is far too good for thee"
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Well, what's the moral of this tale? Well none can really tell
I guess don't go fucking witches or you'll wind up in hell
Like...
Poor poor Jellon Graham
Poor poor Jellon Graham
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3. |
Cuckoo
03:13
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Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird and she warbles as she flies
But she never hollers cuckoo till you reach your darker side
Till you reach your darker side
Well, I climbed that whole mountain just to get to that whiskey still
And I got me a devil bottle for an Andy Jackson bill
For and Andy Jackson bill
Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds you're the hardest card I know
You robbed my poor body but you never took my soul
You never took my soul
Well, I climbed that whole mountain just to get my demons high
Now its greenbacks when they're hungry and whiskey till I die
Yeah, whiskey when they're dry
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird and she warbles as she flies
But she never hollers cuckoo till you reach your darker side
Till you reach your darker side
Cuckoo cuckoo
Cuckoo Cuckoo
Sugar Baby met Miss Lacey Crescent City bound
Sugar Baby and Miss Lacey went and shot this grifter down
Went and shot this poor boy down
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird and she steals from a robin's nest
But she never hollers cuckoo till you're dead in your Sunday best
Till you're dead in your Sunday best
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird and she warbles as she flies
But she never hollers cuckoo till you reach your darker side
Till you reach your darker side
Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds you're the hardest card I know
You robbed my poor body but you never took my soul
You never took my soul
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird and she warbles as she flies
But she never hollers cuckoo till you reach your darker side
Till you reached your poor graveside
Till you reached your poor graveside
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4. |
Gallows Pole
05:25
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Hangman Hangman stay your hand awhile
I think I see my salvation riding a hard long mile
Hangman hold
Who'll save me from the gallows pole
O Hangman hold
Who'll save me from the gallows pole
I think I see my papa I think I see my ma
I think I see my baby coming down the walk
Hangman hold
Come to save me from the gallows pole
O to save my soul
O to save me from the gallows pole
Papa did you bring me silver, mama did you bring me gold
Baby what did you bring me to save me from the hangman's rope
Save my soul
O save me from the gallows pole
O save my soul
Save me from the gallows pole
"Son we ain't got no silver, son we ain't got no gold
All we got is prayers now, Jesus save your soul
Save your soul
Who'll save you from the gallows pole"
O Lord knows
Who'll save you from the gallows pole"
Who'll save you from the gallows
O save my soul
Save me from the gallows pole
Well, my baby took that hangman, led him to a shady grove
Said, "If you save my man now, I'll ride atop your gallows pole
Your gallows pole
Hitch my skirts and ride upon your gallows pole
Oh your gallows pole
I'll ride up and down your gallows pole"
Your gallows pole
I'll ride upon your gallows pole
Your gallows pole
I'll ride and come upon your gallows pole
Then come a silver dagger from a threadbare coat
Damn if she didn't drive that dagger through that hangman's throat
Saved my soul
My baby saved me from the gallows pole
Drove that dagger home
My baby saved me from the gallows pole
Well papa ain't got no silver, mama ain't got no gold
My baby left that hangman hanging from the gallows pole
The gallows pole
Hangman hanging from the gallows pole
O she saved soul
She left that hangman hanging from the gallows pole
O the gallows pole
My baby left that hangman hanging from the gallows pole
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5. |
Mourning Fair
05:21
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As I woke up one morning fair
To take a walk in the morning air
I thought I heard my true love say,
"O will you turn and look my way?"
She gave me sunshine she gave me joy
But she dearly loved that butcher boy
She would not cast a glance my way
She loved that butcher boy clear as day
He told her tales, he told her lies
Then took another for his bride
He told her tales, he told her lies
He left her child bound high and dry
She took my ring, she gave me joy
But still she mourned that butcher boy
He threw her over for a silver coin
But still she loved that butcher boy
She went upstairs to her bed
With an ache all around her head
A cord she tied around the sill
I found her hanging in the morning chill
To her breast she pinned a note
With a trembling hand she wrote,
"Heap up my grave so very high,
My love might see it as he rides by"
She gave me sunshine, she gave me joy
But she was strung up by that butcher boy
I heaped up her grave so very high
Her love might see it as he rides by
I heaped up her grave so very high
Her love might see it as he rides by
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6. |
Pretty Polly
03:16
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O Pretty Polly come away with me
O Pretty Polly come away with me
Before we get married some pleasure to see
She took him by his hand and away they did go
She took him by his hand and away they did go
Over hill and mountain to the holler below
"O Willy Willy I'm afraid of your ways
O Willy Willy I'm afraid of your ways
My ma she did tell me you'd lead me astray
They went a little further and what did Polly see
They went a little further and what did Polly see
A fresh dug grave and a spade by the tree
"O Pretty Polly you're a guessing 'bout right
O Pretty Polly you're a guessing 'bout right
I dug your grave the best part of last night"
She knelt down before him and wept for her life
She knelt down before him and wept for her life
"If I am to die, who will be your bride?"
He stabbed her in the heart and her blood did flow
He stabbed her in the heart and her blood did flow
And into the grave did Pretty Polly go
He threw a little dirt o'er her and headed for home
He threw a little dirt o'er her and headed for home
Leaving nothing behind but the cold wind to moan
O gentleman and ladies I must bid you farewell
O gentleman and ladies I must bid you farewell
I must wed my Pretty Polly when we meet again in hell
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7. |
Rain It Raineth
02:42
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When I was a tiny little boy
With a hey ho and the wind and the rain
A foolish thing was but a toy
For the rain it raineth every day
Every day
Every day
For the rain it raineth
Every day
But when I hitched back
To my daddy's estate
With a hey ho and the wind and the rain
'Gainst my fool heart they shut the gate
For the rain it raineth every day
Every day
Every day
For the rain it raineth
Every day
So I knelt down and took to wife
With a hey ho and the wind and the rain
But all my bullying only come to strife
For the rain it raineth every day
Every day
Every day
For the rain it raineth
Every day
So lay me down in my dying bed
With a hey ho and the wind and the rain
A bottle of rum for my poor head
For the rain it raineth every day
Every day
Every day
For the rain it raineth
Every day
A long while ago the world begun
With a hey ho and the wind and the rain
But that's all one, this fucker's song is sung
For the rain it raineth every day
Every day
Every day
For the rain it raineth
Every day
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8. |
Reynardine
04:16
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One evening as I rambled through the mountains high
I saw a brave young maiden converse with bold Reynadine
Her hair was black as raven, her sky blue eyes did shine
And he smiled to gaze upon her did that sly bold Reynardine.
She said, "Kind sir be civil, my company forsake
For in my own opinion, I fear you are some rake"
"Oh no", he said, "No rake am I, brought up in Venus train
I only seek fair company all along this lonesome plain"
"I come from over the mountain, my castle there you'll find
Many a maiden knows me by the name of Reynardine"
"Your beauty so enticed me, I could not pass it by
Take my arm and I'll guide you all through these mountains high"
Sun and dark she followed him, his fangs so white did shine
And he led her o'er the mountains did that sly, bold Reynardine
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9. |
Shake Sugaree
04:21
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I got a secret
I shouldn't tell
I'm going to heaven
In a split pea shell
Lordy me
Didn't we shake Sugaree
Everything I have
Is down in pawn
I pawned my watch
I pawned my chain
Even tried to sell myself
But I got so ashamed
Lordy me
Didn't we shake Sugaree
Everything I have
Is down in pawn
I found a needle
In a lullaby
Now all my friends say
I'm fixin' to die
Lordy me
Didn't we shake Sugaree
Everything I have
Is down in pawn
I pawned my pistols
I pawned my bed
Now there ain't no where
For me to lay my fool head
Lordy me
Didn't we shake Sugaree
Everything I have
Is down in pawn
I got a secret
Sssh I shouldn't tell
I'm going to heaven
In a split pea shell
Lordy me
Didn't we shake Sugaree
Everything I have
Is down in pawn
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10. |
Two Ravens
03:45
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As I was walking the long road home
I heard two ravens gossiping low
One to the other raven did say,
"Where shall we go and dine the day?"
"Well I heard a rumor if I heard it right
Out in the brier lies a fresh slain knight
And no one knows he's a lying there
'Cept his hawk and his hound and his lady fair
"Well his hawk is roaming the open skies
And his hound is wandering the countryside
And his lady fair has a brand new beau
So high ho and away we go"
As I was walking the long road home
I heard two ravens gossiping low
One to the other raven did say,
"Where shall we go and dine the day?"
"You can feast on that tongue wot lies
And I'll help myself to his bonny blue eyes
And with a lock of his golden hair
We'll make a nest for when the trees fall bare"
"And you can sit on his white breast bone
Just like a king upon a throne
And no one knows he's a lying there
'Cept his hawk and his hound and his lady fair
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11. |
Willy O' Winsbury
05:18
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O the king has been a prisoner
A prisoner long in Spain
And Willy o' the Winsbury
Has laid long with his daughter at home
"What ails you, what ails you my daughter Anne
That ye look so pale and wan?
O have ye had the sore sickness
Or been sleeping with a man?"
"No I have not had the sore sickness
Nor been sleeping with a man
But it is for you to see my father dear
For biding so long in Spain"
"Cast off, cast off your berry brown gown
Stand naked upon the stone
That I may know you by your shape
If you be a maiden or none"
And she cast off her berry brown gown
And stood naked upon the stone
And her smile was sly and haunches round
An her skin was pale and wan
"Was it with a lord or duke or knight
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or was it with one of my serving men
Come lately back from Spain?"
"No, it wasn't with a lord or duke or knight
Or a man of birth and fame
But it was with Willy o' Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone"
And the king he called his merry men all
But thirty and by three
Saying, "Fetch me this Willy o' Winsbury
For hanged he shall be"
When Willy came the king before
He was clad all in the red silk
And his hair was like the golden strands
And his skin was white as the milk
"It is no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter's love ye did win
For if I was a woman as I'm a man
My bedfellow you would have been
O will you marry my daughter Anne
Or hang by my right hand?
O will you marry my daughter Anne
And I'll make you the lord of my land"
"Why yes, I'll marry your daughter Anne
By the truth of my right hand
Why yes, I'll marry your daughter Anne
But I'll not be the lord of your land"
And he mounted her on a mild white steed
And himself on a dapple grey
And he made her the lady of all the land
As she could ride on a warm summer's day
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The Maledictions New York, New York
The Maledictions' sound has been called "Gothic Americana", "Country Noir" and "Nick Cave meets Johhny Cash". "It's all just Folk Music," says band leader, Kevin Orton, "Maybe aggressive Folk but Folk music...I tend to write songs about people who are uninsured". After a solo album, FEMME NOIR (featuring Gordon Gano), Orton formed The Maledictions. Full discography here from albums to singles. ... more
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