she swore out the lights
when she said that she was only in it for the rain
she made of her bed a naive nativity
just in case it became - just in case

here's the first of many songs you wanted me to write
just for you I hope to god you like it
it's as pretty as it is cruel
it's as pretty as it is cruel

she swore out the lights when she dammed herself to sleep
her thirteenth finger my whiskey drink
and she wept at the scene as the ambulance drove off
come circumference, come circumstance

here's the first of many songs you wanted me to write
just for you I hope to god you like it
and it may seem pretty cruel
but mercy is not my name
and our kids I hope to god you counted them

you're as pretty as you are cruel
you're as pretty as you are cruel
you're as pretty as you are cruel