Jellon Graham

from Shallow Graves by The Maledictions

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Adapted from the traditional, Jellon Graeme. Words and Music Kevin Orton (BMI).Copyright 2019 Kevin Orton. All rights reserved.

lyrics

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

credits

from Shallow Graves, released October 1, 2019
Kevin Orton- vocals, guitar
Andre Fratto- guitar, bass, fiddle, percussion
Suzanne Kaiser- midget accordion

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all rights reserved

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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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