Baby Birch

This is the song for Baby Birch

Oh, I will never know you

And at the back of what we've done

There is that knowledge of you

Well, I wish we could take every path

I could spend a hundred years adoring you

Yes, I wish we could take every path

Because you know I hated to close the door on you

Do you remember staring up at the stars?

So far away in their bulletproof cars?

When we heard the rushing, slow intake

Of the dark, dark water and the engine breaks

And I said

How about them engine breaks?

And, if I should die before I wake

Will you keep an eye on Baby Birch?

Because I'd hate to see her make the same mistakes

When it was dark

I called and you came

When it was dark, I saw shapes

When I see stars, I feel in your hand

And I see stars and I reel, again

Well, mercy me, I'll be goddamned

It's been a long, long time

Since I last saw you

And I have never known the plan

It's been a long, long time

How are you?

Your eyes are green, your hair is gold

Your hair is black, your eyes are blue

I closed the ranks, and I doubled back

But you know I hated to close the doggone door on you

We take a walk along the dirty lake

Hear the goose cussing at me over her eggs

You poor little cousin

I don't want your dregs

A little baby fussing over my legs

There is a blacksmith and there is a shepherd

And there is a butcher boy

And there is a barber who is cutting

And cutting away at my only joy

I saw a rabbit as slick as a knife

And as pale as a candlestick

And I had thought it'd be harder to do

But I caught her and skinned her quick

Held her there

Kicking and mewling

Upended, unspooling, unsung, and blue

Told her, "wherever you go

Little runaway bunny, I will find you"

And then she ran

As they're liable to do

Be at peace, baby, and be gone

Be at peace, baby, and be gone