10000 Maniacs - Death Of Manolete lyrics

[ lyrics: natalie merchant/music: j.c. lombardo ]<br><br><br>There were women holding rosaries<br>On the day manolete died<br>Teenage girls in soft white dresses<br>Standing silent peace respecting<br>Groups of boys held in their hands<br>The fragments of a shattered idol<br>The old men with their traditions challenged<br>Refrained from tears<br><br>Neck neck hook<br>Poles of wood<br>The picadores stood eyes ablaze<br>To view brutal contest<br>In the vale of years<br><br>Courage unfailing<br>Agility exhausted<br>Youth entered challenge<br>Reached for title shelved<br><br>Patrons in attendance<br>To disarm a common myth<br>Homage played to the victor of immortality<br>Cloaked in bold tones<br><br>In the stockyard the beasts<br>Did climb their barriers<br>Bid by a frenzied ring<br><br>Bred for one purpose only<br>To die in man's sport<br>Dash against his spindle<br><br>An instant fell to wounding<br>On the day<br>Swords penetrating<br>On the day<br>Torches igniting<br>On the day<br>Flower wreaths encircling<br>The day<br>On the day