River Beggar Summer Killer

from How To End The War by Amina Shareef Ali

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lyrics

The river don’t know his way to the sea,
he only follows his feet.
And the beggar don’t know where he’s trying to go,
but he always ends up in the street.
And I don’t yet know where they’ll dig my grave,
though I’m certain in one I’ll be lain.
But if you don’t know how to kill me, babe,
then the sky don’t know how to rain.

Summer don’t know what it means to grow old,
‘cause summer has always died young.
And I’ve never known how to blurt something bold,
but it’s been on the tip of my tongue.
It ain’t like the President don’t know how to end the war,
but the thought never passed through his brain.
So if you aren’t sure how to kill me, amor,
then the sky don’t know how to rain.

A cat and a snake both know how to hiss,
though only one can kill a man.
And I don’t know where you’ll go after this.
How I wish that I didn’t give a damn.
No, I don’t believe that you’ll end up in hell,
though sometimes I think it’s whence you came.
You know damn well how to kill me, belle,
or the sky don’t know how to rain.
Either this ends when you kill me, girlfriend,
or the sky won’t cry ever again.

credits

from How To End The War, released August 26, 2011
Brian Belknap - mandolin

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Amina Shareef Ali Oakland, California

Based in Oakland, California, Amina Shareef Ali performs songs of love and struggle, of pain and wonder, of loss and redemption. Lyrics by turns poignant and sardonic are set against a backdrop of American music both traditional and modern, from folk to punk to country to jazz to rock and roll. ... more

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