Should've Kept My Eyes Shut

The Beautiful South

(Heaton/Rotheray)

I should've kept my eyes shut

But I had to go and peep

But when you saw what I saw

Well, it's hard just to roll back to sleep



I would've kept my eyes shut

But I thought I heard you scream

And I've a penchant for violence

You don't seem to find in a dream



The scene a little clearer

My father with a rope

And in the cage, centre-stage

It's mother who's destined to choke



And she choke and we choke

On the words that we wish we'd not spoke

Just when you felt you had someone to trust

Out comes the man with the dagger and cloak



I should've read the novels

Believed every word

But the stories they wrote

Were so different to ones that I'd heard



I should've kept my eyes shut

My mouth should've closed

But the mixture of vomit and blood

Just crept up through my nose



It became a little clearer

As soon as I awoke

My father stands with rope in hand

A screaming mother kneels in hope



And she hope and we hope

That me words that she said won't provoke

A smile is removed and a petal is crushed

What once was a laugh has turned into a joke



You should've kept your mouth shut