Emily Lyrics & Chords By Peggy Seeger

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 killed 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 kill 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]