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 tongue
Whatever useless things these hands have done
Let me see your beauty broken down
Like you would do for one you love


Your body like a searchlight my poverty revealed
I would like to try your charity
Until you cry, now you must try my greed
And everything depends upon how near you sleep to me


Just take this longing from my tongue
All the lonely things my hands have done
Let me see your beauty broken down
Like you would do for one your love


Hungry as an archway through which the troops have passed
I stand in ruins behind you with your winter clothes
Your broken sandal straps
I love to see you naked over there, especially from the back


Oh take this longing from my tongue
All the useless things my hands have done
Untie for me your hired blue gown
Like you would do for one that you love


You're faithful to the better man I'm afraid that he left
So let me judge your love affair
In this very room where I have sentenced mine to death
I'll even wear these old laurel leaves that he's shaken from his head


Just take this longing from my tongue
All the useless things my hands have done
Let me see your beauty broken down
Like you would do for one you love
Like you would do for one you love