Motherland

Natalie Merchant

Where in the hell can you go

Far from the things that you know

Far from the sprawl of concrete that keeps Crawling its way about 1,000 miles a day?

Take one last look behind,

Commit this to memory and mind.

Don't miss this wasteland,

This terrible place

When you leave

Keep your heart off your sleeve



Motherland cradle me, close my eyes,

Lullaby me to sleep

Keep me safe, lie with me,

Stay beside me don't go

Don't you go

Oh, my five & dime queen

Tell me what have you seen?

The lust and the avarice,

The bottomless, Cavernous greed,

Is that what you see?



Motherland cradle me, close my eyes,

Lullaby me to sleep.

Keep me safe, lie with me,

Stay beside me don't go



It's your happiness I want most of all

And for that I'd do anything at all,

Oh mercy me!

If you want the best of it

Or the most of all, if there's anything

I can do at all



Now come on shot gun bride

What makes me envy your life?

Faceless, nameless, innocent,

Blameless and free,

What's that like to be?



Motherland cradle me, close my eyes,

Lullaby me to sleep

Keep me safe, lie with me,

Stay beside me don't go

Don't go...