Dar Williams - The Ballad of Mary Magdalene lyrics

written by Richard Shindell

My name is Mary Magdalene

I come from Palestine

Please excuse these rags I'm in

I've fallen on hard times

But long ago I had my work

When I was in my prime

But I gave it up

And all for love

It was his career or mine

Jesus loved me

This I know

Why on earth did I ever let him go

He was always faithful

He was always kind

But he walked off with this heart of mine

A love like this comes but once

This I do believe

And I'll not see his like again

As I live and breathe

And I'm sorry if I might offend

But I will never see

How the tenderness I shared with him

Became a heresy

Jesus loved me, this I know

Why on earth did I ever let him go

He was always faithful

He was always kind

But he walked off with this heart of mine

And I remember nights we spent

Whispering our creed

Our rituals, our sacrament

The stars our canopy

And there beneath an olive tree

We'd offer up our plea

God's creation, innocent

His arms surrounding me

Jesus loved me, this I know

Why on earth did he ever have to go

He was always faithful

He was always kind

But he walked off with this heart of mine

He was always faithful

He was always kind

But he walked off with this heart of mine