[Verse 1] I ran the water till it steamed I ran it till the pipes complained I used the soap he kept for Sunday I used the rag that had no name The sink went pink, then it went clear The night stayed exactly how it was A clean bowl does not mean a clean year A clean hand does not mean a clean cause August took the heat out of this house October put the road outside And in between I learned a color That would not take a side [Pre-Chorus] Not wine Not paint Not a joke about the fall This sat down in the lines And it would not leave at all [Chorus] I couldn’t wash the red off I tried it till the morning came I couldn’t wash the red off It knew my work, it knew my name If the corpse road is for hiding Then it hid me just the same I couldn’t wash the red off And the house went cold anyway [Verse 2] People think a stain is evidence People think a stain is proof People have not lived a night That writes itself into the roof I burned the cloth. I changed the shirt I stood a long time at the glass The mark had moved from where I had it To a place a mirror asks It was not only on the fingers It was sitting in the talk Every time I said I'm fine The color answered from the lock [Pre-Chorus] Not wine Not paint Not a season on the trees This came from what I carried Down a mile nobody sees [Chorus] I couldn’t wash the red off I tried it till the morning came I couldn’t wash the red off It knew my work, it knew my name If the corpse road is for hiding Then it hid me just the same I couldn’t wash the red off And the house went cold anyway [Verse 3] I walked that second roadway With my sleeves rolled to the bone The lanterns in the village Looked like mouths that wanted home The lychgate bit my palm with iron The far field took my breath I said I came to leave a burden And the dirt said, not like that You can bury what you finished You can bury what you own You cannot bury what you did And still call the morning clean and known [Bridge] I am not asking for a trial I am not asking for a crown I am saying that some Octobers Do not rinse, they settle down In the nail beds In the prayer In the coffee In the air [Breakdown] Scrub Scrub It stays Scrub Scrub It stays Sink clear Night dyed That is the tax That is the tithe [Verse 4] Now I keep my hands in pockets When the neighbors bring their sweets I nod. I thank. I shut the door I do not give them what they need A holiday wants something pretty A confession wants a stage I have neither. I have water And a red that will not age If you come here selling mercy Bring a language that can hold A person who has washed and washed And still come up with the old [Chorus] I couldn’t wash the red off I tried it till the morning came I couldn’t wash the red off It knew my work, it knew my name If the corpse road is for hiding Then it hid me just the same I couldn’t wash the red off And the house went cold anyway [Final Chorus] I couldn’t wash the red off It lives quieter than shame I couldn’t wash the red off It does not care who I became If you meet me on the dead mile Do not ask to see my hands They already told the weather And the weather understands [Outro] Tap off Rag gone Morning ordinary Stain on I couldn’t wash the red off So I wore it And I walked
