Natalie Merchant - Ophelia lyrics

A novice Carmelite,

In sister cells, the cloister bells,

tolled on her wedding night

Ophelia was the rebel girl,

a blue-stockinged suffragette

Who remedied society between her cigarettes

And Ophelia was the sweetheart to a nation overnight

Curvaceous thighs, vivacious eyes

Love was at first sight,

Love was at first sight, love

Ophelia was a demi-goddess

In pre-war Babylon

so statuesque, a silhouette

in black, satin evening gowns

Ophelia was the mistress to a Vegas gambling man

Signora Ophelia Maraschina

mafia courtesan

Ophelia was the circus queen, the female cannonball

projected through five flaming hoops

to wild and shocked applause

to wild and shocked applause

hey, he-he-he-he-hey,

Ophelia was a tempest, cyclone, a god-damned hurricane

your common sense, your best defense lay wasted and in vain

for Ophelia'd know your every woe and every pain you'd ever have

She'd sympathize and dry your eyes

Help you to forget

and help you to forget

and help you to forget

Ophelia's mind went wandering

You'd wonder where she'd gone

to secret doors down corridors

she'd wander them alone

all alone