Mary was my mother's mother and my sister too
There's rain in the river and there's a river running through
To the sea around these islands crying tears of sorrow, pain
There's rain in the river and there's a river in my veins
Mary, young as we may be you know, the blood in you and me
Is as old as blood can be
Is as old as blood can be
As old as blood can be
Living lines of memory drew the markings on my hands
Ancient lines of living love are waking in this land
Saying, "I am in the city, in the forest and the field
I am in the bounty, come on know me as I yield
I am in the falcon, in the otter and the stoat
I am in the turtle dove with nowhere left to go"
In the moment of blind madness when he's pushing her away
I am in the lover and in the ear who hears her say
"Can we begin again? Oh baby, it's me again
I know you are so different to me, but I love you just the same
I love you just the same
I love you just the same
I love you just the same
I love you just the same"
♪
Mary Ethel Ruddock, 1912 to '72
Though we never met in flesh but now I remember you
Were warm and you were gentle, you were modest, you were kind
A mother, wife and gran, you were a woman of your time
But do we know your life in colour? Do we celebrate your flame?
Remembering your offering with a candle in your name?
Mary young as we may be you know, the blood in you and me
Is as old as blood can be
Is as old as blood can be
As old as blood can be
And I hear her say
"I am in the living, I am in the dying, too
I am in the stillness, can you see me as I move?
I am in the Hawthorn, in the Apple and the Beech
I am in the mayhem, in the medicine of speech"
In the moment of blind madness when he's pushing her away
I am in the lover and in the ear who hears her say
"Can we begin again? Oh baby, it's me again
I know you are so different to me, but I love you just the same
I love you just the same
I love you just the same"
♪
I am in the living, I am in the dying, too
I am in the stillness, can you see me as I move?