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Lyr Req: I Am Stretched on Your Grave

21 Nov 96 - 03:26 PM (#491)
Subject: leric request: I am streched on your grave
From: Gary Jensen belter@iastate.edu

Some one mentioned the song I am streched on your grave in another post, and it made me curious for the words.

22 Nov 96 - 02:42 AM (#502)
Subject: Add: I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE (from King)
From: Colm Doyle

Hello Gary,

Here are the lyrics as sung by Philip King on the first Scullion album, Scullion from 1979, Mulligan records. The Voice Squad and Sinead O Connor have also recorded it.

Colm

I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE

I am stretched on your grave and will lie there forever.
If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure they'd not sever.
My apple tree, my brightness 'tis time we were together,
For I smell of the earth and am worn by the weather.

When my family thinks that I'm safe in my bed,
From night until morning, I am stretched at your head,
Calling out to the air with tears hot and wild,
My grief for the girl that I loved as a child.

Do you remember the night we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn and the chill of the frost?
Thanks be to Jesus, we did what was right,
And your maidenhead still is your Pillar of Light.

The priests and the friars approach me in dread,
Because I still love you, my love, and you're dead.
And still would be your shelter through rain and through storm,
For with you in the cold ground I cannot sleep warm.

I am stretched on your grave and will lie there forever.
If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure they'd not sever.
My apple tree, my brightness, 'tis time we were together,
For I smell of the earth and am worn by the weather.

22 Nov 96 - 12:25 PM (#509)
Subject: RE: leric request: I am streched on your grave
From: Gary Jensen

Thanks I apreciate it.
Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

20 Jul 97 - 10:08 PM (#9113)
Subject: I Am Streched On Your Grave
From: Mario mbc@total.net

Good day!

I am looking for the lyrics to "I Am Streched On Your Grave" (Irish trad. ?). The group "Dead Can Dance" performs this but their version is incomplete.

Can anyone help?

22 Jul 97 - 01:50 PM (#9251)
Subject: RE: I Am Streched On Your Grave
From: rechal@earthlink.net

You can find the complete song on Sinead O'Connor's album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got".

22 Jul 97 - 08:00 PM (#9286)
Subject: Lyr Add: I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE
From: bigj

I am stretched on your grave
And will lie there for ever.
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure we'd not sever.

My apple tree, my brightness,
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather

When my family thinks
That I'm safe in my bed
From night until morning
I am stretched at you head.

Calling out to the air
With tears hot and wild
My grief for the girl
That I loved as a child.

Do you remember
The night we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn
And the chill of the frost.

Oh, thanks be to Jesus
We did what was right
And your maidenhead still
Is your pillar of light.

The priest and the friars
Approach me in dread.
Because I still love you
My life and you're dead.

I still would be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm.

So I'm stretched on your grave
And will lie there for ever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure we'd not sever.

My apple tree, my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather.

Appears on the CD 'Hollywood' by the Voice Squad - Hummingbird Records HB CD 0002
In his notes, Frank Harte writes: The words of this song are a translation of an anonymous poem in Irish called 'Taim sinte ar do thuama'. The singer Phillip King (producer of 'Bringing It All Back Home' and 'River of Sound') put this air to the poem which I believe brings out so clearly, the sadness and loneliness expressed by the poet.'

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-Oct-02.

23 Jul 97 - 11:24 AM (#9352)
Subject: RE: I Am Streched On Your Grave
From: Mario mbc@total.net

Thank you for the pointers and words.

This song struck a deep chord in me in spite of being a little morbid for my taste. It speaks to me of sadness and loneliness as mentioned in "bigj"'s post above, but also of a love so strong it will not die...

Regards, Mario.