Madame Selma keeps on smiling
selling postcards in the square
In all the photographs the Sun keeps on shining
And you can bet she's there-
One life coated in glossy color
The other coated in dust and blood
You wouldn't think that she'd ever seen the difference
But she did
Oh it's been so long since my man's been gone
And oh, what a woe for a woman in love to have to smile alone
Well it's been so long since my man's been gone
And oh ________ to have to die alone
In Selma's cards there're no folks fighting
No tattered cloth on splayed out bones
Only the Ottoman painted forests
And only the quaint old homes
But war stepped on our poor old door-steps
It's bloody boots on our welcome mat
And Madame Selma started singing a low song about her man
Oh it's been so long since my man's been gone
And if he's gone for the rest of my days
Will my love drag on?
Well, it's been so long since my man's been gone
And it's been so long since the right kind of man tried to take me home
(Trombone solo)
And one day all the soldier's came
______ By the joy they came
Beautiful young boys they came a-marching
The wheat fields waved their healthy hands
The children ran their healthy hands
Reaching for their fathers' hands ______
And through the streets the music sings
-----
As if nothing had ever happened
--- Cheering ---
Well it's been so long since my man's been gone
And it's been so long since the right kind of man tried to take me home
Madame Selma keeps on smiling
selling postcards in the square
In all the photographs the sun keeps shining
And you can bet she's there.