Peggy Seeger - Emily lyrics

Once we were single Once we were young Once we were happy Husband and wife But 14 years married 13 years Harry'd Now I don't care What comes of my life The first time he lifted His hand against me He knew the blow Was wicked and wrong He put his arms 'round me Said he was sorry Sorry love sorry All the night long The next time he lifted His fist against me I thought I'd provoked him I was to blame The next time the next time And the time after I told no one 'Cause I was ashamed When anything crossed him I got his fist If dinner was late He slapped me around With beggin' and pleadin' Stitches and bleeding Nothing would do 'Til I'm on the ground My mom come in She seen I've been crying Seen I was cut and Bruised 'round the eyes My husband turned 'round All smilin' and charming Says all she does Is spend and tell lies He said I was out With men every day He locked me indoors And tore up my clothes My friend heard me screamin' Never come near Why did I stay with him? God only knows If I go quiet That makes him rage If I turn and run He's hunting me down I says why do you hit me? He hit me for asking Whatever I do I'm down on the ground Each afternoon My heart would start trembling I followed his journey All the way home His step at the door Would nearly dissolve me When he walked in My judgment was come I know there's two sides To every question I may be wrong He may be right But he's got just two ways To settle a quarrel One is his left The other his right The doctor said he needs My understanding The police held him challenge A man in his home Everyone knows him No one defends me After the alter A wife's on her own I wander I cry I pray I may die I walk up to strangers To talk in the road Three kids and no money How can I leave him? I loose my kids If I've got no home The last time he hit me He nearly k**ed me I thought I was dead And glad to be free I gathered the kids up And went to a refuge He grabbed a crowbar And come after me When I go out I see him behind me Three times we've moved He's found us again If I k** myself At least I'll die easy At least I'll know why At least I'l know when The refuge is bare The floors and walls echo Nothing reminds me Of comfort or home But here I can sleep And here I can rest Here I have friends I'm no longer alone [humming]