MANTLE FOR THE CORE

I told her get a cab and come over
shouldn't be that hard to get one right now
no need for crimson and clover
and shields do not matter anyhow
but the taxi never came
and the cars went all the same
they came quite near and shifted gear
and just went down the lane
ain't got no grapes upon the vine no more
ain't got no mantle for the core

I called her up for reminding
to tell her simply that I'm still alive
I couldn't stand for the finding
if she's just drifting with the tide
but the telephone was dead
and some distant voices said
"you're a sucker boy • just a worn out toy
you gotta save yourself instead"
ain't got no grapes upon the vine no more
ain't got no mantle for the core

I brushed my teeth and combed my hair
the table covered with a linen cloth
chandeliers lighting everywhere
an oven smelling delicated stuff
but she never saw the scene
and the crystal lost the sheene
just a simple jerk'll make a motor work
running out of gasolene
ain't got no grapes upon the vine no more
ain't got no mantle for the core

I kept me sober for a long time
to be concious when we finally met
finding back to the old rhyme
hoping for a game, match and set
but the spinning wheel just slowed
and I couldn't take the load
so I bought some wine to getta feeling fine
and I'm still back on the road
ain't got no grapes upon the vine no more
ain't got no mantle for the core

                                    khawaga