Billie's tears fall like dust,
From the air into my eyes.
Seeping in before they rust,
Spilling secrets words can't hide.
I am standing on the bones,
Of a mount too high to climb.
Selling secrets to atone
For a song that is not mine.

Billie's bones are white and bleached,
Piled high and hard to reach,
And the top looks cold and bleak.
But I see farther when I stand
On Billie's bones in Billie's land.

There's an orchid in her hair,
There are bruises on her lips.
I would worship if I dared,
Kneeling at her fingertips.
I would tell her how I've yearned,
To be worthy of the grail.
All these years and all I've learned,
Is just how brilliantly I fail.

Billie's bones are white and bleached,
Piled high and hard to reach,
And the top looks cold and bleak.
But I see farther when I stand
On Billie's bones in Billie's land.

Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/4PVzInstrumental break.

Now the flesh of earth has passed,
Now the joints have come undone.
All that's left of her is ash,
Scattered on the air like crumbs.

There are voices on the wind,
Stolen whispers, sacred moans.
You can hear them through your skin,
And the singing of the bones.
When the wind blows from the east,
I can taste her on my tongue.
And the grave is lined and paved with
All the songs we never sung.

Instrumental break.

("Can't get no better'n'at.")

BILLIE’S BONES
Written by: Janis Ian
Performed by: Janis Ian
Appears on: Billies Bones-20031 & (Bonus Track)-2004.

1Transcribed from the track on this album.

Copyright © Janis Ian/her co-writer(s) if any/their publisher(s).
All rights reserved.