Lyrics: Dave Malloy
Music: Dave Malloy
SUSAN
i spent the whole day on the dusty floor
reading every page
it was the story of my grandmama and grandpapa:
how they met and fell in love
and how they parted as they were fleeing latvia—
russians on one side, nazis on the other
a hay truck escape
as the berries and plums of their orchard
were bursting with ripeness
(as grandmother takes the stage and sings, grandfather appears, working at a forgе.)
GRANDMOTHER
a summer day
wooden fencе against a clear blue sky
flowers and bees
burnt yellow grass beneath white birch trees
a hay truck is waiting
there’s no room for our bags
cannon fire coming closer
his eyes so far away
he lays me down in the hay
rests his fingers upon my cheek
smiles so sweetly
as he breaks my heart
and says
GRANDFATHER
i can’t leave yet
the berries and the plums
their harvest time has come
you must sail away without me
and i’ll come and find you both
when all the work i have is done
some day
when all my troubles here are over
GRANDMOTHER
he always had a darkness
demons lurking underneath his skin
everyone knew
the sadness he hid behind a grin
late nights in the barn
pounding metal, drinking wine
stumbling through the smoke
burning his arm against the forge
i’d listen at the door
hear his screams and sobs
and whisper to the child inside of me
help me pray for him
GRANDFATHER & SUSAN
i can’t leave yet
GRANDFATHER
the berries and the plums
their harvest time has come
you must sail away without me
and i’ll come and find you both
when all the work i have is done
GRANDFATHER & SUSAN
some day
when all my troubles here are over
GRANDMOTHER
oh what a roman it would make
and though i knew
that the harvest would go unpicked
that my love had given up on himself
that he had lost his fight
i kiss him on the neck
right under his ear
knowing it’s the last time
and the last thing i’ll hear is
ALL
i can’t leave yet
the berries and the plums
their harvest time has come
you must sail away without me
and i’ll come and find you both
when all the work i have is done
some day
when all my troubles here are over
GRANDFATHER & SUSAN
some day
when all my troubles here are over