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Ruth

from Failed Novels by Sam Steffen

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Ruth copyright Sam Steffen 2014

Ruth was married in the days of yore, at the altar made on the threshingfloor
A man said, “Will you take my hand? Will you wear my weddingband?
Will you say you love me evermore?”

Ruth said, “Yes,” even though she wasn’t sure; she knew that men are often insecure
That night they went to bed, when she woke up he was dead
She cursed him for what he’d promised her: he’d said,

Whither thou goest, I will go, whither thou lodgest I will lodge
Thy people shall be my people, thy God my God
What thou wouldst have me do, I would do
Where thou diest, there will I also die; when no more tears are left to cry
Let it ring out through the land, your wish is my command
Just don’t send me away from you

At the funeral, his mother wept and prayed, then when everyone was gone she stayed
The rain fell lightly down, all was quiet in the town,
Ruth was waiting on her in the glade

When she noticed, Ruth startled and almost fled; but the woman called her to her side instead
She said, “Come be at my side, all my sons have died—
My hopes for going on have turned to lead

“Tell me, what am I supposed to do? If there’s anyone can help me tell me who
Is there anything that rhymes with a grief as deep as mine?
I get older but the pain is always new.”

For a whole week they knealt there without bread, without moving and without sleeping in a bed
And when the eighth day dawned, the woman said to Ruth, “Be gone!
What are you waiting for?” And then Ruth said,

Chorus

credits

from Failed Novels, released November 3, 2014

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all rights reserved

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about

Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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