Take This Longing - Judy Collins

Many men have loved the bells

You fastened to the rein

And everyone who wanted you

They found what they will always want again

Your beauty lost to you yourself

Just as it was lost to them

Oh, take this longing from my heart

Oh, the useless things these hands have done

And let me see your beauty broken down

As you do for one you love

Your body like a searchlight

My own poverty reveals

How I would love to try your charity

Until you cry, «Now you must try my greed»

And everything depends upon

How near you sleep to me

Oh, take this longing from my heart

Oh, the useless things these hands have done

Let me see your beauty broken down

As you do for one you love

As hungry as an archway

Through which the troops have passed

I stand in ruins behind you

With your winter clothes and your broken sandal straps

I love to see you naked over there

Especially from the back

Take this longing from my heart

All the lonely things these hands have done

Untie my blue silk gown

As you do for one you love

You’re faithful to my better self

I’m afraid she left

Let me judge your love affair

In this very room where you’ve sentenced

Mine to death

Look, I’ll even wear these old laurel leaves

That you’ve shaken from your head

Oh, take this longing from my tongue

All the useless lonely things these hands have done

Let me see your beauty broken down

As you would do for one you love

As you would do for one you love