Song Description
In some circles this man might be described as a "seeker"; in others as psychologically unbalanced and easy prey. The song is about his corruption by a religious cult and its effects on him and his family
Song Length |
7:29 |
Genre |
Unique - General, Folk - General |
Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
Mood |
Poignant, Moving |
Subject |
Dysfunctional Relations, Boyfriend, Husband |
Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
Lyrics
his name was john, came from the south
a fine looking man, with no shadow of doubt
to slow him down as he took hold of life
dazzled a young girl and made her his wife - saskia rose
they moved to montana and lived in the hills
she bore him children while he practised his skills
at living away from the home that he'd built
hiding his madness and hiding his guilt from saskia rose
nothing could pull them apart in those heavenly days
she was so pretty in ten thousand different ways
the children were blessings that lit up the hills all around
he worked so hard to drag life from out of the ground
he knew he was special, he knew he was blessed
they came on a sunday, said he was possessed
they burned him with candles, they worked him all day
in two weeks they had him, they said stay away from saskia rose
he emptied his mind, got down on his knees
his only endeavour was to worship and please
the god that he'd found, with a liking for boys
he never thought how he'd almost destroyed saskia rose
nothing could separate him from the love of his god
he'd do anything he was asked no matter how hard
his mind was on fire, his visions his only relief
from old memories and the weight of his crazy belief
she brought him his children, they sat in the park
he spoke in tongues until it got dark
and the darkness consumed him as he walked away
with his back to the children who'd begged him to stay with saskia rose
they found him one morning, the day after thanksgiving
he'd chosen the water in preference to living
with the demons that dogged him, and the god that used him
and those who'd dragged him to the shadows that hid him from saskia rose
she came from montana to claim back her only man
she burned him with fire in the place where it all began
she scattered his bone white ashes over the hills
and tried not to think of the time before he got ill
nothing could pull them apart in those heavenly days
she was so pretty in ten thousand different ways
the children were blessings that lit up the hills all around
they were the love with which he had been crowned