Strange Mercy

St. Vincent Strange Mercy Lyrics
1.Chloe In The Afternoon

Writer(s):Annie Clark

You're all legs
I'm all nerves
Black like her
Horsehead whip
My own heels
Heal my hurt
Horsehead whip
Feel your floor

Chloe in the Afternoon
Chloe in the Afternoon
Chloe in the Afternoon
Chloe in the Afternoon
Chloe in the Afternoon

No kisses, no real needs
No kisses, no real needs

Who here
Hear your word
Ring, ring phone
Send you home
Find my heels
Heal my hurt
Grab my shirt
Back to work


2.Cruel

Writer(s):Annie Clark

Bodies, can't you see what everybody wants from you?

Forgive the kids, for they don't know how to live
Run the alleys casually cruel
Cruel, cruel

Bodies, can't you see what everybody wants from you?
For you could want that, too
They could take or leave you
So they took you, and they left you
How could they be casually cruel?
Cruel, cruel, oh
Cruel, cruel, oh

Bodies, can't you see what everybody wants from you?
If you could want that, too, then you'll be happy

You were the one waving flares in the air so they could see you
And they were a zephyr, blowing past ya, blowing fastly so they
can see ya
Cruel, cruel, oh
Cruel, cruel, oh


3.Cheerleader

Writer(s):Annie Clark

I've had good times
With some bad guys
I've told whole lies
With a half smile
Held your bare bones
With my clothes on
I've thrown rocks
That hit both my arms

I don't know what good it serves
Pouring my purse in the dirt

But I-I-I-I-I don't wanna be your cheerleader no more
But I-I-I-I-I don't wanna be your cheerleader no more

I've played dumb
When I knew better
Tried so hard
Just to be clever
I know honest thieves
I call family
I've seen America
With no clothes on

But I-I-I-I-I don't wanna be a cheerleader no more
But I-I-I-I-I don't wanna be a cheerleader no more

I don't know what I deserve
But for you I could work

Cause I don't wanna be a cheerleader no more
I don't wanna be a cheerleader no more
I don't wanna be a cheerleader no more
I don't wanna be a dirt eater no more
I don't wanna be a dirt eater no more
I don't wanna be a cheerleader no more


4.Surgeon

Writer(s):Annie Clark

I spent the summer on my back
And under attack
Staying just to get along

Turn off the TV, wait in bed
A bluer red
I want somethin' to get along

Best find a surgeon
Come cut me open

Dressing, undressing for the wall
If mother calls
She knows well we don't get along

I tell the mailman, 'Never you mind
I'll sift through the piles'
And for him to just get along

Best find a surgeon
Come cut me open


5.Northern Lights

Writer(s):Annie Clark

If you say it is, then I guess it is
What you say it is, but I don't feel anything
Cause your pendulum doesn't swing again
Yeah, your pendulum hasn't swung back in

It's a champagne year
Through the sober months
Through my modeling days
Through my dry moments

I saw the morning Northern Lights
Convinced it was the end of times
I saw the morning Northern Lights

Gotta get young fast
Gotta get young quick
Gotta make this last
If it makes me sick

I saw the morning Northern Lights
Convinced it was the end of times
I saw the morning Northern Lights
Convinces it was the end of times

I saw the morning Northern Lights
I saw the morning Northern Lights
I saw the morning Northern Lights
I saw the morning Northern Lights


6.Strange Mercy

Writer(s):Annie Clark

Oh little one I know you've been tired for a long, long time
And oh little one I ain't been around a little while
But when you see me, wait

Oh little one your Hemingway jawline looks just like his
Our father in exile
For God only knows how many years
But when you see him, wait
Through double pain

I'll be with you lost boys
Sneaking out where the shivers won't find you

Oh little one I'd tell you good news that I don't believe
If it would help you sleep
Strange mercy

If I ever meet that dirty policeman who roughed you up
No I... I don't know what
If I ever meet that dirty policeman who roughed you up

I'll be with you lost boys
Sneaking out where the shivers won't find you


7.Neutered Fruit

Writer(s):Annie Clark

Did you ever really stare at me?
Did you ever really stare at me?
Like I stared at you

I ate flowers in the backyard
Bought finely neutered fruit
Shot a hundred arrows at a knoll
A hundred sparrows blue

Did you ever really stare at me?
DId you ever really stare?
Did you ever really stare at me?
Like I stared at you

Don't run
Don't run little rabbit run
Don't run
Don't run little bunny run

Did you ever really stare at me?
Did you ever really stare?
Like I stared at you

Did you ever ride a bear for me?
Did you ever really care?
DId you ever really care for me?
Like I cared for you

Don't run away


8.Champagne Year

Writer(s):Annie Clark

So I thought I'd learned my lesson
But I secretly expected
A choir at the shore
And confetti through the fallen air

I make a living telling people what they want to hear
It's not a killing, but it's enough to keep the cobwebs clear

Cause it's not a perfect plan
It's not a perfect plan
But it's the one we've got

It's not a perfect plan
But it's the one we've got

Cause I make a living telling people what they want to hear
And boy, I tell ya, it's gonna be a champagne year


9.Dilettante

Writer(s):Annie Clark

Oh Elijah, don't make me wait
Nobody's winning
The sharks are swimming in the red

Oh Elijah, don't make me wait
While you are sleeping
My mind goes creaking down the wall

Slow down, dilettante
So I can limp beside you
And follow in your rush too

Hang on, street savant
My bank in my pocket
How far you think you'll take us?

You're like a party I heard through a wall
I'm always watching you through a keyhole
Let's not forget, let's not forget
Why we crawled here

Oh Elijah, don't make me wait
I got no patience for an estrangement, anyway

Wake up, avenue C
Your hometown is still sleeping

You're like a party I heard through the wall
Invite me
But I'm always watching you through a keyhole
Let's not forget
Where we crawled from

Oh Elijah, don't make me wait
What is so pressing?
You can undress me, anyway


10.Hysterical Strength

Writer(s):Annie Clark

Hey it's your blood
That makes my veins run
It's true, so I tried to give it back to you

Young one, look at me
It's not your beast to leash
Oh don't hold more than you can stand to carry

Must of been the case
Hysterical strength
To stand up while the room moved off its axis

Old man look at me
Through the teeth of your grief
Oh don't grab more than you can stand to carry

Cause you went off to see no one else could see
and left more than we could stand to bury


11.Year Of The Tiger

Writer(s):Annie Clark

When I was young
Coach called me the tiger
(Oh America, can I owe you one)
I always had
A knack with the danger
(Oh America, can I owe you one)

Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger

Italian shoes
Like these rubes know the difference
Suitcase of cash
In the back of my stick shift
I had to be the best of the bourgeoisie
And now my kingdom for a cup of coffee

Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger

Oh America
Can I owe you one
Oh America
Can I owe you one
Oh America
Can I owe you one
Oh America
Can I owe you one

Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger
Living in fear in the year of the tiger