River to Sleep - Uma Kompton

Mary was a girl as sweet sixteen

So young, so lean

The hour she had planned had finally come

Evil deed that would be done

Her breath smells of cheap and angry gin

Mmm, a drunken grin

She took from the cradle, a young child

So sweet, a life to keep

Down to the river, Mary crept

Ahh, while the townsfolk slept

The cotton dress she wore blazed the night

So bright, in the silver moonlight

Stars shone above her like a guide

She couldn’t hide from the pain inside

She reached the flowing river at ‘past ten

Mmm, too late to mend

She looked at the baby she had born

So sweet, a light so pure

She kissed her on the head on which once

Her quiet friend, this was the end

With strength she didn’t know she even had

She threw it in, oh what a sin

The cries from the water slowly died

Her eyes so wide, at the violent tide

The riverbed, a place to always sleep

Don’t weep, a life to keep

A life to keep

A life to keep