Nursery Rhymes for the Apocalypse, by LM Cooke (2024)

1.

The sea is calm and flat and still, and the frozen water extends until the horizon steals my soul from me - and the ice is all that I can see... Poor Jenny left home back in '23 She sped a fair course across the sea With sails hung full and her mast stood tall Poor Jenny the schooner would conquer them all Ahoy, ahoy a shape in the ice A shape from the past, forgotten and lost Poor Jenny the schooner frozen in brine Hope came for poor Jenny, but not in time Poor Jenny left Lima in darkest Peru Her cargo was heavy, her path was true But in the Drake Passage she mistook her course And the ice closed her in with implacable force When the Hope found her she wasn't alone Her crew still aboard her, she was their last home For 17 years they lay in her hold Preserved by the brine and the ice and the cold Ahoy, ahoy... Poor Jenny's captain was last left alive Found with his journal about to inscribe No food for 71 days, it read No further entries, the last of the dead Poor Jenny's crew we buried at sea Six men, a woman and a dog, all at sea But the Jenny felt eerie and the Jenny felt cold So back to the Hope for the sake of our souls When night came a mist rose and temperatures fell The night on the ocean like some frozen hell By sunrise we realised that we were alone She'd slipped through the ice and the Jenny was gone Ahoy, ahoy...

2.

Yellow eyes in the trees Where he's scratching at his fleas And he's hiding awayAll the better to watch his prey Yellow eyes unblinking stare Look away if you dare There's a hunger in his eyes And it means that something dies CHORUSQuiet wolf, Silent wolf, hungers for the kill. Quiet wolf, Silent wolf, he'll howl when he gets his fill. Yellow eyes in the dark And the moon is pale and stark There's a hunger within And he knows that soon it will begin Yellow eyes getting near Not a sound can you hear There's a wolf in your mind Just beware of what you'll find CHORUSYellow eyes in the black Wonder if you're going to crack Feel them burning within Feel them linger on your skin Yellow eyes make their move Yellow eyes don't have to prove Yellow eyes above you float Yellow fangs sink in your throat. CHORUS

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We stand behind youWe're here for you, we pull for youWe're right beside youYou know it's true, we're here for youWe're standing right behind youWe're coming through, we're right with you We're right here beside youJust let us through, we're here for youWe'll always be here for youYou know it's true, just let us throughWe will always be right with youWe're behind you, you know it's true Just let us through Just let us through Just let us through Just let us through We're here for you Just let us throughAnd we will always find youWe're here for you Just let us throughJust let us through Just let us throughJust let us through Just let us throughYou let us through You let us throughYou let us through You let us throughYou let us through Now we're right behind youWe will find you, you let us through We'll soon be right inside you,you let us through, we're here for youWe're close so close behind youYou let us through, we're here for youWe're closing up behind you,You let us through, we will find youWe're here for you, we will find youYou let us through you let us throughAnd we see you, we see you We will find you, you let us throughYou let us through, you let us throughWe're right behind you, beside youYou let us through you let us throughYou let us through You let us through

6.

Crow girl crow girl sitting in a tree, Swinging her legs and waving at me, Keep both eyes on your silverware, She'll steal your shinies without a careCrow king, crow king sitting in a tree, Crowing at the world and he's laughing at me, Night comes round when he spreads his wings, Black as night is the old crow king CHORUSThere's murder in the air, there's blood across the moon, and the crows are crowing their tuneless tune with feathers black as black and wings that fill the sky the murder crows are here and you don't ask why... Crow witch, crow witch, sitting in a tree, casting her evil eye at me Black her beak as she calls her curse, Black as the colour of the passing hearse CHORUSCrow, crow, crow, crow, murder in a tree, Black as sin and all looking at me, Take to the air to steal the sun, wings block the light and the day is done. CHORUS

7.

I know a place that I can go to.I know a place that no one knows, And in that place no one can find me, And to that place no other goes And the wolf howls in the clearing. And the wolf hows in the clearing. and the wolf howls in the clearing, And the wolf howls in the clearing I know a time no one can find me. I know a time when I'm alone. I know a time no one can bind me. I know a time I call my own. And the wolf howls in the clearing. And the wolf hows in the clearing. and the wolf howls in the clearing, And the wolf howls in the clearing I know a space that I can make mine. I know a space I claim for me. I know a space that I may call home. I know a space that lets me breathe. And the wolf howls in the clearing. And the wolf hows in the clearing. and the wolf howls in the clearing, And the wolf howls in the clearing And in my place you'll never find me, And in my space I'm all alone. I feel the beast, the beast inside me, And in my place that beast may roam. Yes the wolf howls in the clearing. And the wolf wakes in the clear ing. and the wolf runs in the clear ing, And the wolf growls in the clearing Yes the wolf howls in the clearing. And the wolf growls in the clearing. and the wolf disembowels in the clearing, And the wolf howls in the clearing I know a wolf that I can call mine.I know a wolf deep in my soul I know a wolf that's always with me. I know a wolf that keeps me whole. And the wolf howls in the clearing. And the wolf growls in the clearing. and the wolf disembowels in the clearing, And the wolf howls in the clearing And the wolf leaves the clearing. And the wolf clears the clearing. and the wolf says farewell to the clearing, And the wolf howls in the clearing I know a wolf and so do you I know a wolf and so do you Much better than you wanted to Beware the wolf Beware of you

8.

How do I know that I'm not going crazy,not going crazy, not going crazy?how do I know that I'm not going crazynot going crazy, not going crazy?Is it because I know nothing makes sense?There's no evidence for pounds, shillings and pence.Is it the way that I sit on the fence to not cause offence, when everyone's tense? Oh, How do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy?how do I know that I'm not going crazy,not going crazy, not going crazy?Is it the way people listen to me, and apparently take me seriously? Maybe those people should pause to take tea, find a new hobby and stop listening to me! Oh, How do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy? how do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy?Crazy is as crazy does. Crazy isn't a crazy buzz. When everything else around me is crazy, how do I know the crazy's not me? Is it because I find everything funny when weather is sunny and runners are runny. Can't help but laugh at the shortage of money, though that isn't funny, O look there's a bunny! Oh, How do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy, how do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy Is it the way the colours are changing, the shapes rearranging, the chickens free-ranging? Is it the way that it's turned on its headand the light has grown red? Wish I'd stayed in bed! Oh, How do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy? how do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy? Crazy is as crazy does. Crazy isn't a crazy buzz. When everything else around me is crazy, how do I know the crazy's not me?Is it the people I know to eschew? What is one to do when they're out to get you? Or is it those peeps that know to avoid me? Quite sensibly, it seems to me Oh, How do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy? How do I know that I'm not going crazy, not going crazy, not going crazy?Not going crazy not going crazy Crazy crazy crazy crazy not going crazy Crazy!

9.

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of ryeFour and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie,From within the crust, the birds sing in the pie,They sing a song to tell the world the time has come to dieThe king was in his counting house a-counting all his coin,but all the gold within his kingdom won't cure pustules in his groin.Rich or poor they all must heed the blackbird's song,rich or poor they all must know their time will not be long.The queen was in the parlour, eating honeyed bread,Servants lay around her, Blackened, rotten, dead.Honey in the bread can't hide the taint of spoil, decay.Even queens will kneel when the blackbird has his day.The maid was in the garden, a-burying the dead.Along came a blackbird, and pecked off her head.Their wings spread out across the land, they cover all the earth.And none shall be escaping when the blackbirds do their worst.Sixpences closed the dead man's eyes the rye grew through his corpse.Those that ate the pie were sick, their humours all a-warped.The blackbirds all took to the air, their beaks a-gape to sing,and all that did a-hear them knew it was death they bring'd.

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The quavering moon is gone too soon, The flowers of night are such delicate blooms The stuttering moon sings out of tune The beasts of the night trace delirious runes CHORUSSing now, sing for the moon Sing when you're winning Sing when you lose Sing now, howl like a loon Howl for the might of the moon The dish ran away with the silver spoon, the rivers of moon light flow into lagoons Who dares to impugn her white-faced mis-tune No song of the spheres is more inopportune Sing now, sing for the moonSing when you're winning Sing when you loseSing now, howl like a loonHowl for the might of the moonSing for the moon Howl for the moonWhether or not you can carry a tune Animals gather to hear what you croon Sing for the might of the moon The ravenous moon sings a tale of doom, the sun looks so tasty and dark falls at noon, And no cocoon shall prove immune From bone white moonlight from playground to tomb Sing now, sing for the moonSing when you're winning Sing when you loseSing now, howl like a loonHowl for the might of the moon

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When the sun rises there’s a smile on her faceThe babe in her arms is contented and warmShe hands him to another, a surrogate motherThen watches him grow so he’ll come to no harmThe sea is his mother and the sea is his loverShe’ll allow him no otherAnd the sky will be blue,And the wind will breathe softAnd the nets will fill fastWhile something sleeps in the deep belowWhen the year turns her jealousy piquesThe babe grown to man is now spurning her charmsHe turns to another, he takes him a loverTurns his back on the ocean and her loving armsFor she is his mother and she is his loverShe’ll allow him no otherAnd the sky will turn black,And the tide will run wildAnd the winds will blow fierceAnd the waves will grow tallAnd the monsters will stir in the deep belowSo she takes back his lover and she takes back his childShe leaves him bereft and alone, all aloneShe takes all his luck, keeps the fish from his hookAnd she moves to destroy all he’s known, all he’s known.For she is his mother and she is his loverShe’ll allow him no otherAnd the sky will turn black,And the tide will run wildAnd the winds will blow fierceAnd the waves will grow tallAnd the monsters are rising from the deep belowShe leaves him the blame, a culprit not a victimAnd they rise up against him in anger and fearBut she is his mother and she is his loverAnd she will not suffer them to take him from her.The sea is his mother and the sea is his loverShe’ll allow him no otherAnd the sky has turned blackAnd the tide it runs wildAnd the winds blow so fierceAnd the waves have grown tallAnd the monsters are circling from the deep belowAnd the tide has come in And the water is risingAnd the winds howl throughAnd the sea fills their eyesAnd the salt fills their mouthsAnd the monsters come to take them to the deep belowNow the sky has turned blueAnd the tides they run slowAnd the winds gently whisperAnd the waves gently lapWhile the monsters sleep sated in the deep below.

14.

I'm waiting for the end of the worldI know it's going to happen, I'm just that kind of girl,The end is creeping nearer with teeth bared and claws unfurled,The light is growing dim, the air is growing thin,And here I'm waiting for the end to begin.I'm waiting for the end of the world,Good bye, Good bye, Good bye.I'm waiting for the end of the worldI'm dressed for the occasion in heels and vintage pearls,My hair is up like Hepburn’s, lipstick on, eyelashes curled.The stars are going out with a whisper, not a shoutAnd I'm waiting here without a shadow of doubtI'm waiting for the end of the world,Good bye, Good bye, Good byeThe winds have all gone still, nothing grows nor never will,The livestock all fell ill, only mankind left to kill,And there's blood across the moon, and the birds are out of tune,The sky was dark at noon, and the end is coming soon.There's tears across the sky and the oceans have boiled dry,No tears left to cry, as we wait alone to die,And the air's too hot to breathe, but there's no one left to grieve,Don't bother to deceive, we know there's no reprieveI'm waiting for the end of the worldI know it's going to happen I'm just that kind of girl,The end is creeping nearer with teeth bared and claws unfurled,The light is growing dim, the air is growing thin,And here I'm waiting for the end to begin,I'm waiting for the end of the world,Good bye, Good bye, Good bye