How could this be? I thought that life had more for me I step outside in mint and gold And see the same work as before The light goes dim along the hall I lean against the castle wall For half a breath I felt brand new And now I feel so small Look at this impossible mountain It swallows every step I take I wander round its linen cliffs And find more baskets in my way Beyond it wait more baskets And sheets I haven’t counted yet No magic’s allowed to help me So I must use these hands instead Let me be free, let me be free From all these sheets across the floor A life beyond a closing door A sky that wasn’t made of chores This kingdom shines in blue and gold Then leaves me here to work alone Let me be free, let me be free Is that too much to ask for? I walk the edge of endless wash The windows fade from gold to gray He never called it punishment But still it feels that way My magic draws from living things It’s all I’ve ever known to do If that’s why he has left me here What does that make me in his view? Let me be free, let me be free A little sunlight past the door They ask for every hour I have And always seem to ask for more I sink against the cold stone wall The mountain turns to shadow now My last strength leaves me with a sigh I cannot find a way back out I guess this is where I die I’m sorry, everyone. I tried. Tell the lamb I said goodbye And that the mint looked good on me A basket slips, the mountain sways The sheets come rolling through the hall A woman steps through silver light And stops them just before they fall She says she felt a life in danger And rushed to reach me just in time She sees the jacket, sees the laundry And looks offended on my behalf Oh, you poor exquisite thing! I felt your precious life at risk I only come when death is near— Though handsome faces top my list Who gave this boy a mountain of sheets? What demon calls that fair? In that new jacket? Absolutely not. Stand back. I’ll take it from here. She calls the task a wicked curse And says my coat’s too fine for this She waves her wand, the baskets rise The sleeves go sailing with a twist She washes, dries, and folds it all The shelves fill up before my eyes She tells me that the job is done And I, somehow, have survived The floor is clear, the shelves are full The castle glows in gold again My jacket fits, my breathing slows The wicked pile has met its end For all the grief I poured in song And all the tears I nearly cried This task is done, the curse is gone I never touched a single pile
