Many men have loved the bells 
 you fastened to the rein, 
 and everyone who wanted you 
 they found what they will always want again. 
 Your beauty lost to you yourself 
 just as it was lost to them. 
 Oh take this longing from my tongue, 
 whatever useless things these hands have done. 
 Let me see your beauty broken down 
 like you would do for one you love. 

 Your body like a searchlight 
 my poverty revealed, 
 I would like to try your charity 
 until you cry, "Now you must try my greed." 
 And everything depends upon 
 how near you sleep to me 

 Just take this longing from my tongue 
 all the lonely things my hands have done. 
 Let me see your beauty broken down 
 like you would do for one your love. 

 Hungry as an archway 
 through which the troops have passed, 
 I stand [bad word] behind you, 
 with your winter clothes, your broken sandal straps. 
 I love to see you naked over there 
 especially from the back. 

 Oh take this longing from my tongue, 
 all the useless things my hands have done, 
 untie for me your hired blue gown, 
 like you would do for one that you love. 

 You're faithful to the better man, 
 I'm afraid that he left. 
 So let me judge your love affair 
 in this very room where I have sentenced 
 mine to death. 
 I'll even wear these old laurel leaves 
 that he's shaken from his head. 

 Just take this longing from my tongue, 
 all the useless things my hands have done, 
 let me see your beauty broken down, 
 like you would do for one you love. 

 Like you would do for one you love.