She Cut Off Her Long Silken Hair - Richard Thompson

Midnight in her room

There was music and incense and mirrors all round

By the light of the moon

Her silver dress slipped to the ground

Then she knelt like St Joan

And invisible armies attended her there

And her knife brightly shone

As she cut off her long silken hair

Trapped, I suppose

Lied for my sake

Crushed like the rose

That somebody picked by mistake

Oh I knew it would come

I knew she would leave me for some better start

Oh I knew it would come

She was too well rehearsed in her part

And I measured my life

And my heart fairly broke with the sorrow and care

As she took down the knife

And she cut off her long silken hair

Oh there’s some who believe

Oh there’s some who believe there are reasons to lie

And there’s some who deceive

And the truth is right there in their eyes

Oh but I don’t see why

In all of my life I’ve seen nothing so fair

And I don’t see why

She cut off her long silken hair

I don’t see why

I don’t see why