Peggy Seeger Emily
Once we were single
Once we were young
Once we were happy
Husband and wife
But 14 years married
13 years Harry'd
Now I don't care
What comes of my life
The first time he lifted
His hand against me
He knew the blow
Was wicked and wrong
He put his arms 'round me
Said he was sorry
Sorry love sorry
All the night long
The next time he lifted
His fist against me
I thought I'd provoked him
I was to blame
The next time the next time
And the time after
I told no one
'Cause I was ashamed
When anything crossed him
I got his fist
If dinner was late
He slapped me around
With beggin' and pleadin'
Stitches and bleeding
Nothing would do
'Til I'm on the ground
My mom come in
She seen I've been crying
Seen I was cut and
Bruised 'round the eyes
My husband turned 'round
All smilin' and charming
Says all she does
Is spend and tell lies
He said I was out
With men every day
He locked me indoors
And tore up my clothes
My friend heard me screamin'
Never come near
Why did I stay with him?
God only knows
If I go quiet
That makes him rage
If I turn and run
He's hunting me down
I says why do you hit me?
He hit me for asking
Whatever I do
I'm down on the ground
Each afternoon
My heart would start trembling
I followed his journey
All the way home
His step at the door
Would nearly dissolve me
When he walked in
My judgment was come
I know there's two sides
To every question
I may be wrong
He may be right
But he's got just two ways
To settle a quarrel
One is his left
The other his right
The doctor said he needs
My understanding
The police held him challenge
A man in his home
Everyone knows him
No one defends me
After the alter
A wife's on her own
I wander I cry
I pray I may die
I walk up to strangers
To talk in the road
Three kids and no money
How can I leave him?
I loose my kids
If I've got no home
The last time he hit me
He nearly killed me
I thought I was dead
And glad to be free
I gathered the kids up
And went to a refuge
He grabbed a crowbar
And come after me
When I go out
I see him behind me
Three times we've moved
He's found us again
If I kill myself
At least I'll die easy
At least I'll know why
At least I'l know when
The refuge is bare
The floors and walls echo
Nothing reminds me
Of comfort or home
But here I can sleep
And here I can rest
Here I have friends
I'm no longer alone
[humming]
