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10,000 Maniacs — Verdi Cries
Album: In My Tribe
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 561









Released: 1987
Length: 4:20
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The man in 119 takes his tea alone.
Mornings we all rise to wireless Verdi cries.
I'm hearing opera through the door.
The souls of men and women, impassioned all.
Their voices climb and fall; battle trumpets call.
I fill the bath and climb inside, singing.

He will not touch their pastry
But every day they bring him more.
Gold from the breakfast tray, I steal them all away
And then go and eat them on the shore.

I draw a jackal-headed woman in the sand,
Sing of a lover's fate sealed by jealous hate
Then wash my hand in the sea.
With just three days more I'd have just about learned the entire score to Aida.

Holidays must end as you know.
All is memory taken home with me:
The opera, the stolen tea, the sand drawing, the verging sea, all years ago.
Comments (12)add comment
Saw them play this in Poughkeepsie NY during this album's tour and she played this by herself on the piano.  A girl fight broke out right in front of her below the stage.  She stopped the song, broke up the fight and continued.  Unforgettable.
Beautiful song, beautifully sung - one of my favourites!
I have never heard this -what a gift 
Good for you RP!  My all time favorite from the Maniacs.  I used to listen to this in college late night on headphones...nice way to drift off.
Love this one
Always loved this song. Been enjoying RP on a spring day in my home office here in Toronto, but this made me take notice.

We were camping in Vermont years ago and 10K Maniacs were playing nearby. My wife said maybe next time. They split up weeks later :(

Love the mix Bill!
Nice to hear this on RP! I always really liked this song.
 rwgibson99 wrote:
That voice...sucks

 

Kitsch
Ahhhh...nothing like Natalie and her Verdi Cries to add a bit of warmth to an otherwise frigid Canadian spring day.
AMAZING SONG! Gorgeous.
That voice...