Lyrics: Poison In The Well
Album: Blind Man’s Zoo
Artist: 10000 Maniacs
 

[ music: dennis drew/words: natalie merchant ]

Tell me what’s gone wrong.
I tilt my head there, under the faucet, but when i turn it on — dry as paper.
Call the neighbors.
Who’s to blame for what’s going on?
In the dark without a clue i’m just the same as you.

O, they tell us there’s poison in the well,
That someone’s been a bit untidy and there’s been a small spill.
Not a lot, no, just a drop.
But there you are mistaken, you know you are.
I wonder just how long they knew our well was poisoned but they let us just drink on.

O, they tell us there’s poison in the well,
That someone’s been a bit untidy and there’s been a small spill.
All that it amounts to is a tear in a salted sea.
Someone’s been a bit untidy, they’ll have it cleaned up in a week.
But the week is over and now it’s grown into years since i was told that i should be calm, there’s nothing to fear here.
But i drank that water for years, my wife and my children.

Tell me, where to now, if your fight for a bearable life can be fought and lost in you backyard?

O, don’t tell us there’s poison in the well,
That someone’s been a bit untidy, that there’s been a small spill.
All that it amounts to is a tear in a salted sea.
Someone’s been a bit untidy, they’ll have it cleaned up in a week.