It’s like Y’ever know someone with really bad teeth I mean blacked up soft and like twisted up teeth Y’ever be talkin your eyes into lookin up into their eyes or their hair or their forehead just so you don’t have to look down at them teeth An you watch their hand flutter up around their mouth maybe Like if they’re talking or eating or something like It’s gonna make you stop looking but it makes you Look even more like oh man just oh man that is fucked up in there busted up blacked up tar packed criss cross bad weather horror show 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8- 1-2-3-4-5 or Y’ever know someone who did you a wrong Maybe a person who’s telling a lie and they Think you don’t know and they’re being real careful But that only makes you know more that they’re lying They just keep on talking, they can’t see their face move They have no idea how much a face shows They’ve got black sticky lie foaming out of their mouth And although you don’t want to you can’t look away—oh man-- fucked up in there busted up blacked up tar packed criss cross bad weather bad weather bad weather horror show. Let me tell you something. Listen to me. You should stop then. Listen to me. Drag your eyes down their face and look at that mouth that glistening hole and the black and the shame that glows all around it-- That’s your morning star, my friend. Congratulations. You found a bag of damage they're dragging every dark mile from here to home. You found a treasure-latch. A private avalanche of broken Where their chaos and damage crawled into a hole. The hole to the hollow. You found the door. Now find the key. Everybody has a key Their secret rusted key At the bottom of the drawer In the medicine cabinet In the gutter of their broken heart In the driveway, in the rain All you gotta do is find the key. And if you stick the key in just right If you say things just right Angle yourself in Stick the key in I promise you darlin it’ll fit. And you can go in And you can go in And you can go in 1-2-3-4-5... And burn the house down.

Have you ever heard of Pentecost? That’s what I am. Pentecostal. Do you know that Story? How the Jews’ heads lit up on fire How their tongues sang a tune they did not know In the key of God “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” They spoke “with other tongues," as the Spirit gave them utterance. So yes there were times When he just wouldn’t let it alone, you know My bad check or jail letters or sprawled on the bathroom floor He’d come home, find me On the floor that only I ever cleaned Just would not let it go And I would’ve taken it for him I would’ve known he was only killing that ill and hungry pain Always in the center of the brain Cause we all know the medicine the need for the medicine is bigger than the body itself You’ve had that pain I see it on your face we all have “I can't bear up under all of this. I can't bear up under all of this. I can't bear up under all of this. I can't stand it much longer” Something just went hot-white My head caught alight A shiver of a mem’ry My mother silver shrill inside my ear Singletary’s on the shelf To kill ants and roaches It’s 60 cents It’s only 60 cents-- CHORUS: You think he's gonna sing low, the devil But his voice is high, way way high He clangs the church bell And sings along high, way way high You think he's gonna sing low, the devil But his voice is high, way way high High So high Like mine You think his voice is quiet, the devil And it is, oh yes it is You were right about that part And it is, oh yes it is You think his voice is quiet the devil It is yes it is Like when you’re alone and no one is around But here's the thing you don't know Til he comes to blow his black blessing in your ear Here's the thing you don't know Til he breaks the bloody egg in your mouth-- He sounds just like you girl Just like you You can't tell him apart Tell him apart from you He’s gonna use your own voice That's the one he will choose And what will you do, girl? What will you choose? HA! I saw the pink dress Up there in the window Pink like a princess Daddy saw me see it, saw me for once He brought it home Showed it to Mother I was breathless What did she say? Be too hard to iron Be too hard to iron Too hard to iron Too hard to iron CHORUS: You think he's gonna sing low, the devil But his voice is high, way way high! He clangs the church bell And sings along high, way way high! You think he's gonna sing low, the devil But his voice is high, way way high High, so high Like mine (ever heard something come out of your mouth and you’re not sure you mean it but now it is out and you’re not sure you said it but yeah you just said it and nothing will ever go back to before) So if I had to give you A bit of a clue, Get to know your own voice Cause it's his too Listen for the change in your pitch, the catch Stuff something in your mouth if you can reach it fast Don’t give up, honey Unless you hafta give in. And if you hafta give in: Let the black blessings blow.

Well, because the blood improved my skin It really did improve my skin I’m expected to have good skin With the portraits Countless Countess events It really did improve my skin This is an objective fact I borrowed their beautiful skin What were they going to use it for in their dark barns and dead fields Well, because it was inside my skin The hunger was inside my skin To make them feel something beyond Just their commonplace Their dreary day gray Pain is full of bright colors Reds and oranges and purples and pinks I filled them up with these colors And they filled me up in return What more were they going to do In their dark barns and their dead fields? Why not do something important in the castle with the Countess? CHORUS: They aren’t real, you know. They aren’t real. They’re so small from up here. They’re pretend from up here. They’re like dolls, you know. They’re like poorly made dolls. With shabby old dollclothes And tiny rough hands. They don’t have anything There are thousands of them All the same, all identical Crawling over each other They’re not people, exactly They’re not real Not like you or like me. Not like you or like me. Not like me. Not like me. They have sealed me into this tower Thin white with one window that opens to sky I can hear the armies of farmers they’re weeping for daughters on bath days they’ll never forget-- But I just-- It’s so funny-- Nobody cared until OUR girls went missing The noble girls The rich pretty girls Nobody lifted a finger to stop me They know What you and I know: CHORUS: They aren’t real, you know. They aren’t real. They’re so small from up here. They’re pretend from up here. They’re like dolls, you know. They’re like poorly made dolls. With shabby old dollclothes And tiny rough hands. They don’t have anything There are thousands of them All the same, all identical Crawling over each other They’re not people, exactly They’re not real Not like you or like me. Not like you or like me. Not like me. Not like me.

When they adopted me They changed my name From Honora Honora to Jane. Do you think something was lost when I became Jane? Because I know I'm not the same As you--I'm not the same My father was a tailor who went insane My father was a tailor who went insane I was drawn to nursing like a moth to a flame The grim hand clutching my starched arm The spasm dissolving into stillness I am the shield-maiden wielding the flame I am the shield-maiden wielding the flame Those that I liked I would nudge out to sea, just to see But bring back before dark They loved me more for it What is more delicious than "almost"? Those that I hated I sent to the deep Those that I hated I sent to the deep The blacks of their eyes like the black of the deep Ebbing and flowing, the black of the deep-- I'm sorry everybody I'm sorry I can't feel it I'm sorry everybody I'm sorry I can't feel it First with the atrophine, then with the morphine Ebb and flow, large and small Their pupils grow so large and shrink so small-- Ebb and flow, large and small I climb into bed and hold you, mesmerized mesmerized I don't know why but I can't take my eyes Off your eyes off your eyes Something cosmic and eternal, like planets or stars Ebb and flow, large and small I'm sorry everybody I'm sorry I can't feel it I'm sorry everybody I'm sorry I can't feel it Was there ever anyone who wanted you to love them In a way that you could not In a way you did not feel Who asked for too much --There was, wasn’t there? And you had to say: I'm sorry I'm sorry I can't feel it I'm sorry I'm sorry I can't feel it I'm sorry I'm sorry I can't feel it I'm sorry I'm sorry I can't feel it [from Jane Toppan's testimony:] "When I try to picture it, I say to myself, I have poisoned Minnie Camps, my dear friend. I have poisoned Mrs. Gordon. I have poisoned Mr. and Mrs. Davis. This does not convey anything to me and when I try to sense the condition of the children and all the consequences, I cannot realize what an awful thing it is. Why don't I feel sorry and grieve over it? I cannot make sense of it at all." I’m sorry Minnie Camps. I’m sorry Mrs. Gordon. I’m sorry Mr. and Mrs. Davis. I’m sorry my sister. I’m sorry I can’t feel it. I’m sorry prosecutors! I’m sorry I don’t feel it. I’’m sorry judge and jury! I’m sorry I don’t feel it. I’m sorry to my jailers! I’m sorry I don’t feel it. I’m sorry everybody! I’m sorry I don’t feel it.

If it hadn’ta been Michigan If it had been somewhere warm, maybe That’s where I was goin, Florida Where it's warm Yeah my people came over here All the way from Finland? Sweden? One of those blond-headed countries Somewhere so cold To work in the mines on the UP To dig from the ground From the old dead ground If it hadn’ta been Michigan But somewhere warm If I hadn’t been the Cigarette Pig Down jacket zippers rippin down Looking for something warm Anything warm If I hadn’ta had it Or if they’da let me keep it Or if I'da been 15 and not 13 If they'da let me keep my bedroom And not went to the woods Like a lonesome wolven girl Like a born bred animal If it hadn’t been so cold Curl up in the carshell With the visits from the dirty fingers You ever been to Michigan in December? Then you don’t know If it hadn’ta been Michigan If it had been somewhere warm maybe That's where I was going Florida Where it's warm One of those people asked me Asked me, What would I have been If if if if if if if What would I have been? “Archaeologist Paramedic Police officer Fire person Undercover work or with the DEA Or a missionary If it hadn’ta been Michigan.

I asked Mr. Foster, "Mr. Foster, please tell me Are there animals in the world That do not have teeth? Do not have teeth?" He said, "I don't know dear Mary, What do you think?" This is his way of getting me to think hard Of getting me to think Which do not have teeth Which do not have teeth Where I live there are dogs and there are rats and there are cats But they all have teeth Yes they all have teeth Yes they all have teeth Yes they all have teeth And we all have teeth Even if they're fake teeth And some may be missing Or pointier than others... Come to think of it Why would God ever Make an animal without teeth, Like a baby boy or bird? Like a baby boy or bird? How foolish that would be. If I were God I wouldn't make things without teeth Unless they were only meant For trouble in the end. Are there things that are made Just for others to unmake? Is this how God thinks? And does God have teeth? Do you think God has teeth? Do you think God has teeth? Do you think God has teeth? And we all have teeth Even if they're fake teeth And some may be missing Or pointier than others... Come to think of it Why would God ever Make an animal without teeth, Like a baby boy or bird? Like a baby boy or bird? Like a baby boy or bird? Here is what I wrote to Mr. Foster in the end: "Turtles Birds Babies" ...that's all I could think.

Your little dark pearl Has only just been born Yet hasn't your husband been long away from home? Fighting his war while you fought here alone You lost the battle, he's on his way home. What will he see in her face? A helpless babe or a disgrace? How well I remember his rage Too well I remember your bones How happy you were when he left How sad you are he's coming home. I'm your doctor, my dear And I know what is best: Is it time to make him an angel? I will show you how to make him an angel. CHORUS (Hungarian:) Jóéjt férjem, jóéjt férjem Jóéjt, jóéjt, jóéjt férjem Jóéjt férjem, jóéjt férjem Mert én vagyok Angelmaker. Goodnight my love Goodnight my love-- For I am the Angelmaker. Your little dark pearl Is fading away Now that there's no husband to bring home a day's pay If you had one fewer mouth to feed Perhaps the others would have what they need? I'm her doctor, my dear And I know what is best Open her mouth and I'll help her to rest Is it time to make an angel? I'll show you how to make an angel. CHORUS Jóéjt gyermekem, jóéjt gyermekem Jóéjt jóéjt jóéjt gyermekem Jóéjt gyermekem, jóéjt gyermekem-- Mert én vagyok Angelmaker. Goodnight my child, goodnight my child-- For I am the Angelmaker

When I was fourteen I stole a red lipstick From the five and dime Wasn't much of a kick Didn't think about it later Never did it again-- I was somebody else back then Until I met you. Oh yeah, I met you. There is a poison made of only our breathj Mingling in the same room Like a chamber of death It's more powerful than any other substance on earth Takes down mountains Dries up rivers Crumbles fate and inhibitions-- You breath out and I breathe in I breathe out and you breathe in You breathe out and I breathe in That's the way the thing begins-- CHORUS And if I never met you I would've never met me This lionhearted, ragged angel you see Not sure which of us is you Don't care who is the real me This burn-it-to-the-ground song's all I want to sing And only with you. They better keep us apart They better keep us apart If they don't keep us apart There's no tellin No tellin Keep us apart Keep us apart Keep us apart And let the world keep spinning I will never forget you I will love you forever In your long black coat the one cold week of winter There will never be another My jigsaw sister Just don't come any closer to me ever again Ever again Ever again (1-2-3-4-5) CHORUS And if I never met you I would've never met me This lionhearted, ragged angel you see Not sure which of us is you Don't care who is the real me This burn-it-to-the-ground AGAIN! burn-it-to-the-ground AGAIN! burn-it-to-the-ground song's all I want to sing And only with you. You breath out and I breathe in I breathe out and you breathe in You breathe out and I breathe in That's the way the thing begins--

Swaying like a feather in the leatherette breeze Gathering potential Nothing stops the yellow line From cutting through the road The cactus juts its spiny fingers Pretty hateful-looking gesture I don't care I'm riding high Gathering potential You ask me why I sit here quiet "You're one of those quiet ones," you say Then I see that little smile Oh yeah I see that little smile "Thanks for the ride" And I think, how am I here now? The crease In my well made mind The pocket in my socket black-blind The one wrong turn made miles ago and forgotten Theses are why The black crack In my otherwise white lie The one wrong turn at the wrong time My pockets full of alibis These are why The fear that I will punch no hole in time To be remembered by The terror I will punch no hole in time To be remembered by. Swaying like a feather in the leatherette breeze Gathering potential Nothing stops the yellow line It cuts right through the road. We're slowing down and pulling over The brakes squeal like a dirty beast I don't care, I'm riding high Gathering potential It's pretty dark with all these trees here It makes me think of Hansel and Gretel The escape path the moon lit up for them I look for mine And calculate his weight in my mind "Thanks for the ride" And I know why I'm here now-- The crease In my well made mind The pocket in my socket black-blind The one wrong turn made miles ago and forgotten Theses are why The black crack In my otherwise white lie The one wrong turn at the wrong time My pockets full of alibis These are why The fear that I will punch no hole in time To be remembered by The terror I will punch no hole in time To be remembered by. The fear that I will punch no hole in time To be remembered by The terror I will punch no hole in time

We are forced to eat this red dust by our will to live We will sweat under bondage to our will to live We are made thick with terror by our will to live We are broken into pieces by our will to live We’re infected with murder by our will to live We are chained to our children with our will to live We are dumb slaves to Heaven by our will to live We are sealed inside our bodies by our will to live We are glued back together by our will to live We are hurled into the future by our will to live We are hoist on the shoulders of our will to live We plant new life inside us with our will to live We get up over and over for our will to live We are swelled into giants by our will to live We are hushed into silence by our will to live It was in those who were broken By those who once were whole All those tangled in the roots of the river Inside those lying quiet so far away from home And inside those who most need your forgiveness And oh, it lies heavy on us Squeezes salt tears from our eyes And oh, it lies heavy on us Like a mighty winter blanket-- The spark we shall not shake, child The spark we cannot shake The spark we will not shake child The spark we never shake. It's the drumbeat It's the liar It's the holy Vein of fire.