Gone

© Anne Sumner 2019

Oh Lady your dress is torn
You’ve been running around in the woods
My Maid I am all forlorn
I’ve been chasing a guy who’s no good
Said he’d meet me at midnight
And he’d shelter me under the moon
Lay me down in the brooklime
And convinced me to give up my youth

And times, they were hard
But we knew what had to be done
And life took my breath away
And I’d love to stay, but I’m gone

He’s been leaving it too late
To come claim what is his now for sure
So I’ll be leaving at daybreak
For I can’t stand the shame I’ll endure
Take me down to the stables
Let ‘em know not to say where I went
The smell of leather and the clatter of stirrups
A white mare that carries me hence

And times, they were hard
But we knew what had to be done
And life took my breath away
And I’d love to stay, but I’m gone

He approaches the paddock fence
As she’s making her movements to leave
Says I’m on the receiving end
Of the anger you cannot release
And oh Lady you can’t pretend
As you summon the courage to cry
All those letters you never send
Are the reasons I never reply

And times, they were hard
But we knew what had to be done
And life took my breath away
And I’d love to stay, but I’m gone

And we thought there were answers out there
But nothing has yet come to light
And I’d bring all my faults to bear
But there’s nothing that makes it alright
And they ask me what day it is
And I’m not sure that I understand
The significance of the question
Or why the world’s still circling

And times, they were hard
But we knew what had to be done
And life took my breath away
And I’d love to stay, but I’m gone

And times, they were hard
But we knew what had to be done
And life took my breath away
And I’d love to stay, but I’m gone