The lyrics, right this time

I knew that I was getting things wrong with some of the words to this song, which I have fallen in love with. So I searched and found it sung by the man who wrote it; and now I’ve got the whole thing right (at least much righter!). So I had to go on and repost this. It is such a beautiful song; and now, whether you get to hear it as sung by him or by Maura O’Connell, you … and I … will be able to know what the words are. I think they are absolutely beautiful.

Mystic Lipstick
Written by Jimmy MacCarthy

She wears mystic lipstick
She wears stones and bones
She tells myth and legend
She sings rock and roll
She wears chains of bondage
She wears wings of hope
She wears the gown of plenty
And still it’s hard to cope

Chroi oh mo chroi your heart is breaking
Your eyes are red, your song is blue
Your poets underneath the willow in despair
They have been lovers of your sad tune
Lovers of your slow air

And though they feed on what hurts you
To sing the book of your heart
Ah sweet black rose how they love you
And it’s hard to
But they do Éirann
They do …

She keeps fools for counsel
She keeps wig and gown
The cloth and the bloody warfare
The stars, stripes and crown
But still we pray for a better day now
God willing it’s for the best
But I’ve just seen the harp on a penny
With a dollar on her naked breast

Chroi oh mo chroi your heart is breaking
Your eyes are red, your song is blue
Your poets underneath the willow in despair
They have been lovers of your sad tune
Lovers of …

Chroi oh mo chroi your heart is breaking
Your eyes are red, your song is blue
Your poets underneath the willow in despair
They have been lovers of your sad tune
Lovers of your slow air
Lovers in sweet … despair