Jim Carroll – Lorraine (lyrics)

I was underneath the staircase

I was talking with my angel

He said that beauty is only terror

You know, when terror is just beginning

I thought I heard some footsteps

Lorraine, she was coming

But she’s been feelin’ real sick lately

She been kickin’ down her habit

So I went around to see her

I had the angel in my pocket

She had jewels between her fingers

And there was blood across Lou’s carpet

But I know that she’s feelin’ better . . .

I saw her walking to the Market

She went down

The sharp black hole

She wants to die just to save her soul . . .

But she wants to live

She wants to start her band

She swears the stage is God’s left hand

So I’m sitting in the cellar

Beneath my dark apartment

I had the angel on my shoulder

You know, his wings were kinda shattered

He plays with broken mirrors

And he said that he just saw Sally

And that Sally was with Lorraine

And they were playing in the alley

So I went around to see them

Ahhh . . . they were doing it together

And there was a little blood across the concrete . . .

I know they were feeling better . . .

They got straight

They understand

They wanted to die but now they got plans

They want to live; they want to start their band

They swear the stage is God’s left hand

I’m waiting in the lobby

The angel dropped the mirror

But he still insists that beauty . . .

That beauty is just one part of terror

There’s a painting on the ceiling

Of a dog . . . he had eyes like rubies,

And then the angel just remembered

That Lorraine was at the movies

I found her in the back aisle

There was blood across the next seat

When she reached out to touch me

I thought that that that was so sweet

So I stuck her with my finger

It was like a knife through leather

She had a song along her eyelid

I KNOW she was feeling better

She got straight

She understand

She wanted to die but now she got plans

She want to live

She want to start her band

She swear the stage is God’s left hand . . .