Schwa Lyrics

Madeleine

Lyricist: Ed McGee
Vocalist: Ed McGee

I sip wine and lurk in the gloom
and I wait in darkness, but soon
you are mine, Madeleine.

Your grave is out in the yard,
but you're here now and it's so very hard
to define, Madeleine.

	From casket to cask, now your spirit's been passed,
	I sip at the wine so you'll last.
	On the curve of the crystal, just after a taste,
	sometimes I see your face.
	I know you are there when I sniff the bouquet
	and somehow I know you will stay.
	You will remain like a sweet aftertaste
	and mercifully linger to grace
	the wine. 

Your father's vinyard is now overgrown
and down in the cellar, we still hear you moan
and you whine, Madeleine.

You left too swiftly, my would-have-been bride,
so now I've spent years here to drink you inside,
you're divine, Madeleine.

	From casket to cask, now your spirit's been passed,
	I sip at the wine so you'll last.
	On the curve of the crystal, just after a taste,
	sometimes I glimpse your face.
	I know you are there when I sniff the bouquet
	and somehow I know you will stay.
	You will remain like a sweet aftertaste
	and mercifully linger to grace
	the wine. 

Her face was on the label, it was "Madeleine Wine,"
both peasants and gentry would desire her design.
I'd see her in the garden, disbelieving she's mine,
wandering through lilac and sipping her red wine.
And then an April's raining, she lies a month in bed,
white towel on her forehead, her cheeks flushed red.
She asked us for a vintage, but the doctor, he lied,
he brought a glass of water, she drank it and died.


I sip wine and weep in the gloom.
There's just a half carafe left in the room,
so good-bye, 
good-bye, Madeleine.