You are only pretty if you disappear And you must be beautiful for them my dear Whatever before you wanted to achieve Is lost to this love to turn to fallen leaves The fallen leaves that cover everything Must lie together all in your eyes Then you can live among the privileged Oh but don't appear to be more than mine
I am only pretty if I disappear I see myself and wish me gone When others strive to keep themselves alive I rise and fall in this crowd alone My love for you is like the morning That at the window wants to come in But still the curtains twitch and shudder The house where I'm supposed to live closes again
With every step this light gets stronger And more of my face and skin is seen I see the light fall on my children And I fight for them and myself again And here I am my island, my home And pretty flowers all rot and fade The scent of death does naught to cover me Nor does the water all around my bed Oh when will I embrace my darling Your head and hair in the lonesome night No matter what I do or say my love Or where I walk on these blistering feet
You are only pretty if you disappear And you must be beautiful for them my dear Whatever before you wanted to achieve Is lost to this to turn to fallen leaves