The Fiery Furnaces
The Old Hag Is Sleeping
My Baby’s angry, he’s always so angry
He smiles only when he can give me abuse
What’s the use? What’s the use?
The church bells are busted again

And at cakewalk class I’m out of sync
I peek at granddad’s watch and take a drink
Linen being pawned on eclipse
Pack the swatches in the pony-cart
Before the gate he squints and’s ready to start

My baby’s angry, he’s always so angry
At best he ignores me and don’t curse and stare
Despair, oh despair!
He gets pink roses sent by
The other woman now lives upstairs
You think she thinks he really cares?

I go and retire by nine
He’s in the Kansas City cabinet today
Pretend I’m asleep and I hear him say
"The old hag is sleeping! Now old hag, stay sleeping
If you never wake up, it’s heaven as it were
Widower! Widower!"

My Baby’s angry, he’s always so angry
He smiles only when he can give me abuse
What’s the use? What’s the use?