Blanket me sweet nurse
And keep me from burnin'
I must get back
To the woods dear girls
I must get back to the woods

In the bloody elevator rising for their first cup of tea
Of the day
When does sky turn into space
And air into wind?

The only things
I really need
Is water, a gun, and rabbits

Let me rest
My fevered cheek
Upon your warm sweet bellies

In the bloody elevator going to the bright theater now
Come on boys
Please let me taste the clean dirt in my lungs
And moss on my back


Lyrics submitted by twitty

Saint Mary Lyrics as written by Mark Linkous

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Saint Mary song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Confined to a hospital, the narrator wants to return to some form of simplicity - the hospital is a 'bright theater,' a stage where he feels exposed, and yet inexplicably lonely.

    noseforsharpieson July 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i heard this was about his stay in the hospital after his near-eath experience

    Duielon March 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    sounds like dieing and going up too heaven "in the bloody elevator going to the bright theatre now". such a beautiful song, very under rated

    no_one69on February 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is indeed about Mark's hospital stay after he mixed his antidepressants with a sleep aid to get over jetlag on a trip to England. I think he hospital he spent his prolonged stay at was Saint Mary's in London.

    NESooneron December 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard there was more than just antidepressants and sleepaids. but it's only rumor. I dunno.

    this is probably my favorite sparklehorse song. it is just so sad.

    cigaretteon February 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    that's quite beautiful, noseforsharpies.

    and i mix antidepressants with sleep aids quite frequently, so let's hope there was more to it ;)

    TheWrongGirlon November 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Linkous overdosed on something like whiskey, heroin and pills. He passed out in a position which cut off the blood supply to his legs. When he was finally found by paramedics they revived him and straightened out his legs which caused him to have a heart attack. He was treated in St. Mary's hospital and this song was written in sort of 'thanks' to the nurses and doctors who treated him.

    JAStewarton February 10, 2012   Link

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