Long before what is black was blackened O, long before Blooms of gray made mother lovely Mother ain't lovely no more And long before the house was leaning O, long before The corridor of box woods lined the entrance Box woods ain't there no more Dad burned the box woods And like to burned the house But one came wandering and beat daddy down O, long before Long before this road seemed knotted O, long before There was but one path dim and cozy Path don't seem to be no more And long before you were my sister O, long before Gals in town they called me mister Ain't no girl call on me no more I cut the card loosewise Were you not my only dream? Give the hero his house He and ma live in sin O, long before And long before you were an artwork O, long before Mama s**led you on her holy breast Mama's breast ain't holy no more Long before we shared a shortsheet O, long before I stood above you as you slept I don't stand above no more We won little mobile And won filthy path And will drift along tongueless unhappiness at last Will last And last Till we see fit to stand before That virgin c*nt, that sainted who*e Whose piss we have slept under Whose smell we have bore Is her heelprint that marks our faces? O, long before