Death Of Manolete

[ lyrics: natalie merchant/music: j.c. lombardo ]







There were women holding rosaries

On the day manolete died

Teenage girls in soft white dresses

Standing silent peace respecting

Groups of boys held in their hands

The fragments of a shattered idol

The old men with their traditions challenged

Refrained from tears



Neck neck hook

Poles of wood

The picadores stood eyes ablaze

To view brutal contest

In the vale of years



Courage unfailing

Agility exhausted

Youth entered challenge

Reached for title shelved



Patrons in attendance

To disarm a common myth

Homage played to the victor of immortality

Cloaked in bold tones



In the stockyard the beasts

Did climb their barriers

Bid by a frenzied ring



Bred for one purpose only

To die in man's sport

Dash against his spindle



An instant fell to wounding

On the day

Swords penetrating

On the day

Torches igniting

On the day

Flower wreaths encircling

The day

On the day


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