Many men have loved the bells
you fastened to the reins
And everyone who wanted you,
they found what they will al
ways want again.
Your beauty lost to you yourself,
just as it is lost to them.
Oh, take this longing from my heart,
All the useless things these
hands have done,
And let me see your beauty broken down
As you would do for one you loved
Your body, like a searchlight,
my own poverty reveals
How I would love to try your charity,
until you cry
Now you must try my greed
An d everything depends upon
How near you sleep to me
Oh, take this longing from my heart
All the useless things
these hands have done
Let me see your beauty broken down
As you would do for one you love
As hungry as an archway
Through which the troops have passed
I stand in ruins behind you
With your win ter cloak
And your broken sandal strap
I love to see you naked over there,
es pecially from the back.
Take this longing from my heart,
all the lonely things these
hands have done.
Untie my blue silk gown
As you would do
For one you love
For you're faithful to my better self
I'm afraid, she'd let you
Let me judge your love affair
In this very room
Where you have sentenced
mine to death
Look, I'll even wear these
old laurel leaves
That you've shaken from your hair
Or take this longing from my tongue
All the useless lonely things
these hands have done
Let me see your beauty broken down
As you would do for one you love
As you would do for one you love.