May I Caress Your Soul, Madame - Lyrics

May I Caress Your Soul, Madame

When I see the seagulls shitting on the statues by the Seine

I think of you standing by the café in the rain

You had water in your shoes and you did not enthuse

When I jokingly said all you could do was dance and pout and feign.

Oh Madame, I have regretted my actions like a fool

I never do admit so simply as a general rule

But when I sit at night in the bar where you used to sing

I feel akin to the vagrants drool, oh akin to the vagrants drool

May I

Caress Your Soul,

Madame?

I disobeyed your orders, yes, but not from spite

It was in a dim girl’s pelvis that I tried to find delight

And when you walked into the room, and startled, knocked over the broom

I knew anything but silence would have only been too trite.

I know I am a callous man, I deal in callous love

I received my orders from below, not from above

But I see your sad blue eyes and your apocalyptic frown

Your name is Paloma, the whore, the dove.

May I

Caress Your Soul,

Madame?

On cold spring nights I wander with my jacket and tobacco

I cannot say I have a place to go or way to follow

I simply let my eyes fall in a bleak droop to the ground

Oh darling I feel so hollow, so inane and hollow.

The sun rises ironically, the moon laughs dirty guffaws

The paths of love are judicial and governed by odd laws

The jury of the natural world throws acid in my eyes

I, like you, cannot see past my pride and ugly flaws.

May I

Caress Your Soul,

Madame?

The waitress in the café puts a key into my hand

She says “room 16, at midnight, the Hotel Grand”

I push it back into her palm, say “I cannot tonight Madame”

And sleep instead to dream of this sunken ship that we have manned

Oh Paris is still the ancient world, the Gods are lined on high

I no longer worry dear that I might fall and fail and die

For I have died already and died over and over since

Can you help me dear, would you even try?

May I

Caress Your Soul,

Madame?

The sewers hold the refuse, the rats and shit and piss

I often feel that I myself should add myself to this

I would float down to oblivion, drowning in putrefaction

But I would dream forever of your kiss.

I sign this final note and hope it finds you well

I drop it in the post box as I feel my cold heart swell

I dream this will entice you back with fondness on your lips

I will either end with you on earth or in the depths of hell

May I

Caress Your Soul,

Madame?

Is there Something Still

In Your Soul,

Madame?

Do You Dream of Me

In Your Soul,

Madame?

May I

Caress Your Soul,

Madame?