[Intro] [Creaky, wheezing accordion chords] [Staggered, dragging drum beat] [Verse 1] She sits by the window as the sun goes down (Sun gone down, de air turnin' chill) She reaches for her shoulder, she reaches for her back (Hear de bone pop, hear de dry skin crack) One peel, two peels, she drops them on the floor (Red body movin' behind de back door) [Verse 2] Now she moves like a shadow, she moves like a flame (Nobody dare for call out she name) She hides her coat in a wooden mortar (Higue gwin' slide 'cross de holy water) She flies through the rafters as a ball of fire (Spirit of de flame with de wild, white hair) [Chorus] Old Higue, Old Higue, where do you creep? (Suckin' de breath while de pickney a-sleep) You leave your skin and you leave it behind (Blood inna yuh eye and yuh lose yuh mind) We stagger and swing in the middle of the night (Watch for de ball of de burnin' light) [Bridge] Quick! Fetch the salt and fetch the black pepper! (Rub it inna she skin, make it burn, make it fester!) She is searching and screaming, she can't put it on (Wait for de light of de comin'-up dawn) Salt on the doorstep, salt on the floor (Higue can't enter through de open door) [Verse 3] She must count every grain, count every one (Finish yuh countin' before de risin' sun) If she misses a grain, she must start it again (Cryin' in de dark with a skin-less pain) The Loa are watching, the Loa see all (Watch de fire-ball stumble and fall) [Chorus] Old Higue, Old Higue, where do you creep? (Suckin' de breath while de pickney a-sleep) You leave your skin and you leave it behind (Blood inna yuh eye and yuh lose yuh mind) We stagger and swing in the middle of the night (Watch for de ball of de burnin' light) [Outro] [Music slows to a low, rhythmic thumping] Burn, Higue, burn... (De sun comin' up... de sun comin' up) No skin for you... (Empty mortar... empty mortar...) [End]
