Cathy came down to
this city surrounded
Her heart full and empty handed
Her dreams were like dead
men’s party promised
Hollowed by strangers more than
she could speak through
Named for the Saint or
one of these streets
She was too perfect
breathing whispers
All the failures
they couldn’t resist her
Their futures partly promised
To the heartsick boys
and the hard luck girls
So she’s cracking spines
and tearing out pages
Finding the passages
this life predicted
About a boy who knew nothing
And a girl almost traceless
And an air sick with secrets
And a faith that gets wasted
On the heartsick boys
and the hard luck girls
She’s made her choices
she has her reasons
She gets to digging
she’s buried legions
She lets her kindness
do the killing
Most go softly most
are willing
They’re pebbles and stones
deep in her pockets
Their buried moans
are haunting these halls
It’s a long walk
from the front door
to her bedroom
And they always want more
Is it wicked to ask for so much
Is it worth it
She’d say I think so
For the heartsick boys
and the hard luck girls
the heartsick boys
and the hard luck girls