Mind The Cat

[INTRO — three wooden knocks] [WOMAN, spoken] Somebody stop that clock. [VERSE 1] Heat the water on the stove Bring the lye and Sunday clothes Comb her hair and wash her hands Lay her on the cooling plank Two old coins upon her eyes Black cloth where the mirror shines Pull your chair up, trim the wick Nobody leaves her after six [REFRAIN] Mind the candle Mind the door Mind what scratches at the floor Say your prayers But don't forget— Some things ain't been settled yet [CHORUS] SIT UP WITH THE DEAD TONIGHT Keep the coffee, keep the light One for sorrow, two for grace Don't let nothing take her place Let the old clock lose its hands Let the Lord make what He can We'll keep watch till morning comes And mind the cat And mind our tongues [VERSE 2] Men are planing poplar down Someone's digging higher ground Women carry beans and bread Enough to feed the living fed Three hard knocks— Nobody there. Screech owl crying through the air Aunt May crosses heart and breast Preacher says it's only wind Nobody argues with him. [CHORUS] SIT UP WITH THE DEAD TONIGHT Keep the coffee, keep the light Turn the looking glass away Tell the bees before the day Let the old clock lose its hands Let the Lord make what He can We'll keep watch till morning comes And mind the cat And mind our tongues [BRIDGE — xylophone, piano, floorboards] [WOMAN, quietly] Who's told the bees? [VOICE] Thought you did. [Silence] [WOMAN] Go tell 'em. [VERSE 3] Winter froze the mountain stone So we couldn't take her home Springhouse kept her cold and still While snow lay white against the hill Come the thaw we'll climb that ridge Carry what the winter hid Hair tied safe inside a chain One small thing that death can't claim [FINAL REFRAIN] Mind the candle Mind the door Cover what reflects the room Tell the bees And stop the clock [three wooden knocks] And somebody— mind that cat.