Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie

official lyrics from The Milk-Eyed Mender

That means no where I come from.
I am cold, out waiting for the day to come.

I chew my lips, and I scratch my nose:
feels so good to be a rose.

Oh don't, don't you lift me up
like I'm that shy, no no no no no,
just give it up —
There are bats all dissolving in a row
into the wishy-washy dark that can't let go.
I cannot let go,
so I thank the lord, and I thank his sword!
'tho it be mincing up the morning,
slightly bored

O, morning without warning like a hole,
And I watch you go
There are some mornings
when the sky looks like a road.
There are some dragons
who were built to have and hold.
And some machines
are dropped from great heights lovingly.
And some great bellies ache
with many bumblebees
(and they sting so terribly).

I do as I please.
Now I'm on my knees.
Your skin is something that I stir into my tea.
And I am watching you
and you are starry, starry, starry
and I'm tumbling down, and I check a frown.
Well, just look around.
It's why I love this town:
just see me serenaded hourly!
celebrated sourly! dedicated dourly;
waltzing with the open sea —
clam, crab, cockle, cowrie:
will you just look at me?

Notes

The only song Joanna Newsom has recorded three times. Its title picked up commas somewhere between Walnut Whales and The Milk-Eyed Mender — maybe found at low tide. On the Ys Street Band EP version, Neal Morgan adds a second voice.

Other versions