Crooked Road And The Briar Lyrics

Calexico Crooked Road And The Briar

Down the crooked road a ways 
A child's shadow hiding in the briar 
Tending to a twisted heart that's bent and broken 
Wounded and abandoned left amongst the rotted root to rot

Moon, crimson moon 
Rose marie's walking down the crooked road a ways 
All aglow, her fair white skin 
Portrait of beauty, angel to many 
Hears the hush crying from the briar 
Reaches in her hand to see what's the matter 
And is dragged through the darkness 
Beneath the lonely cypress 
The town's beloved daughter 
Carried to her death in the turbid waters 
And set afloat downstream

Whole town erupts, bursts into flame 
Parties go a-searching down the crooked road a ways 
Find old rufus there drunk and asleep 
Fishing by the water must have killed our beloved daughter 
Can't hold back these waves of anger 
Tie a rope around his neck 
See if he still hollers 
Another innocent soul hangs over the briar