"DARLING BELLE"
THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND
Papa would take me to the park to see the swansBy hansom cab trotting so highHolding his hand to see the swansHissing louder than rustling dresses of gracious ladies bustling by
See swan ships come sailing inWhite as the clouds on a windy day
James I suppose would be in schoolJames I suppose would be in school
I was I was learning to spellLaughing at loud smellsAvoiding the rod of the codfaced masterWas it your absence made me quiet at noonPlaying british bulldogs on the gravelWas it your presence coloured my dreamI burrowed in cupboards like a mole all saturdayUnder old chairs and old ladies kneesI framed your half remembered faceWith frail white embroideriesCalling for you down the mousey gardenCalling for you down the mousey garden
O did you meet him at the ballEighteen years onTall soldier now and you full grownBelle did you meet him at the ball
O do you remember meThin girl with cold handsYou in your scarlet and you knew my nameStep to the veranda under the wisteriaIn the mysterious novemberDancing as if with death or fateTo the moon black ballroomOf the silk skinned lakeKissing me you lifted my skirtUnder the willow trees
Keep the home fires burningThough your heart is yearningThough the boys are far awayThey dream of homeThere's a silver liningIn the dark clouds shiningTurn that lining inside outTill the boys come home
O did I see you march to the trainDid I cry was my nose redMy two day bride can you feel me in your memoryI will be the redness in your iron fireHow could i writeMy words would seem sad or gayWe regret to inform youWe regret to inform you
Meet me by gaslight in the dark dawnOn waterloo bridge we will walk arm in armHearing the leaves fall with whisper into the foggy dewWhen we are deadWhen we are dead
Now she sits in her brother's window's houseSkin like a lizard aura like a daffodilMigrant guest from relative to inlawShe stares into the embers and remembers
