Lucinda - Tom Waits

Well they call me William the Pleaser

I sold opium, fireworks, and lead

Now I’m telling my troubles to strangers

When the shadows get long I’ll be dead

Now her hair was as black as a bucket of tar

Her skin as white as a cuttlefish bone

I left Texas to follow Lucinda

Now I’ll never see heaven or home

I made a wish on a sliver of moonlight

A sly grin and a bowl full of stars

Like a kid who captures a firefly

And leaves it only to die in the jar

As I kick at the clouds at my hanging

As I swing out over the crowd

I will search every face for Lucinda’s

And she will go off with me down to hell

I thought I’d broke loose of Lucinda

The rain returned and so did the wind

I cast this burden on the god that is within me

And I’ll leave this old world and go free

The devil dances inside empty pockets

But she never wanted money or pearls

No that wasn’t enough for Lucinda

She wasn’t that kind of girl

Now I’ve fallen from grace for Lucinda

Whoever thought that hell’d be so cold

I did well for an old tin can sailor

But she wanted the bell in my soul

I’ve spoken to God on the mountain

I’ve swam in the Irish sea

I ate fire and drank from the Ganges

I’ll beg there for mercy for me

I thought I’d broke loose from Lucinda

The rain returned and so did the wind

I was standing outside the Whitehorse

Oh but I was afraid to go in

I heard someone pull the trigger

Her breasts heaved in the moonlight again

There was a smear of gold in the window

And then I was the jewel of her sin

They call me William the Pleaser

I sold opium, fireworks, and lead

Now I’m telling my troubles to strangers

When the shadows get long I’ll be dead

Her hair was a black as a bucket of tar

Skin as white as a cuttlefish bone

I left Texas to follow Lucinda

I know I’ll never see heaven or home