Patty Griffin › Lyrics › Mary

Mary, you're covered in roses, you're covered in ashes
You're covered in rain
You're covered in babies, covered in slashes
Covered in wilderness, covered in stains

You cast aside the sheet, you cast aside the shroud
Of another man, who served the world proud
You greet another son, you lose another one
On some sunny day and always you stay, Mary

Jesus says, "Mother I couldn't stay another day longer"
He flys right by and leaves a kiss upon her face
While the angels are singin' his praises in a blaze of glory
Mary stays behind and starts cleaning up the place

Oh Mary, she moves behind me
She leaves her fingerprints everywhere
Every time the snow drifts, every way the sand shifts
Even when the night lifts, she's always there

Jesus said, "Mother I couldn't stay another day longer"
He flys right by and leaves a kiss upon her face
While the angels are singin' his praises in a blaze of glory
Mary stays behind and starts cleaning up the place

Oh Mary, you're covered in roses, you're covered in ruins
You're covered in secrets
You're covered in treetops, covered in birds
Who can sing a million songs without any words

You cast aside the sheets, you cast aside the shroud
Of another man, who served the world proud
You greet another son, you lose another one
On some sunny day and always you stay

Mary, Mary