absolute

I've loved Lankum's version of this old tune, and then I heard Peggy Seeger do it, which makes me think that this song comes from much deeper in time than I initially gave it credit for. I'm sure there's plenty of ways to read the lyrics, but I'm leaning towards a cautionary bog witch tale.

***

When I first came to town
They called me the roving jewel
Now they've changed their tune
Call me Katie Cruel

When I first came to town
They gave me drinks a plenty
Now they've changed their tune
Hand me the bottles empty

And if I was where I would be
Then I'd be where I am not
Here I am where I must be
Where I would be I cannot

Through the woods I am going
Down through the boggy mire
Straightways down the road
Till I come to my heart's desire

And if I was where I would be
Then I'd be where I am not
Here I am where I must be
Where I would be I cannot

When I first came to town
They called me the roving jewel
Now they've changed their tune
Call me Katie Cruel

Image from the National Library of Ireland (1892)

Katie Cruel (Cover)

WWW Buglife Mix

demo annie fatt & izzy frog


I object you defer to me 
We woke up and she was dead
Not for you that I mind myself

Tree was never cut down

annie fatt & izzy frog & ste & cami KISS KISS KISS

& i'm at his friend's house
we can gossip maybe talk about 
with my hood up and jeans on
talking bout short skirts and the way i walk 
i spend all my time giving you all of mine
and i give up trying to make sense 
make you pay up
now i'm talking shhhhhh
I spend all my time
giving you all of mine 

now my friend's gone 
but im not 
took myself back to where im from 
in a raace to the finish line
MAKE YOU SWEAT IN HIGH HEELS AND A BODYCON
but my name feels right when its back to front
to spit me out iss all that you want
to waste this up is
to spend all my time 
spend all my tim e
giving you all of mine 

make you sweat in high heels 
make you sweat in high heels 
keep you sweating
watch me sweat

SPENT MY TIME

--demo annie fatt & izzy frog


I was just thinking that I could be more like him 
pour it out lock me in
maybe that's what you heard when i said
narrative, isn't it