Stone For Bessie Smith Lyrics - Mythical Kings & Iguanas/reflections In A Mud Puddle - Dory Previn

isn't it amazing 

shakes you to the bone 

she bought a stone 

for bessie smith 

she bought bessie smith 

a stone 

she got it for 

her grave-site 

on a temporary loan 

but she forgot 

she had not paid 

for her own 

she forgot she had not paid 

she forgot she had not paid 

after all the contracts 

and arrangements had been made 

she went to bessie's grave 

and marked it with a stone 

but she still 

had to pay for her own 

she went home 

to her class reunion 

where a class-mate 

he confessed 

she wouldn't want this 

getting out 

but she used to be the best 

in school she was a nice girl 

as descent as the rest 

though she never was 

conservatively dressed 

isn't it amazing 

you think she could've known 

she bought a stone 

for bessie smith 

she bought bessie smith 

a stone 

she got it for 

her grave-site 

on a temporary loan 

but she forgot 

she had not paid 

for her own 

she forgot she had not paid 

she forgot she had not paid 

no sooner had the letters 

on the deed begun to fade 

when her ashes had been scattered 

been battered and been blown 

she still had to pay 

for her own 

she knew 

miss gloria swanson 

on a tv show they met 

they talked across 

a hundred years 

miss gloria's with us yet 

but janis was a gambler 

who'd already lost a bet 

and the time had come 

to settle up 

her debt 

isn't it amazing 

shakes you to the bone 

she bought a stone 

for bessie smith 

she bought bessie smith 

a stone 

she got it up 

for bessie 

on a temporary loan 

but she forgot 

she had not paid 

for her own.