SWEETNESS AND PAIN
Words and music by Sarah McQuaid
Recorded on Walking Into White (2015), The St Buryan Sessions (2021)
The sweetness of the berry
Doesn’t take away the pain
Of the briar when it stabs you
In the hand
But the power of your craving
For the fruit among the thorns
Is driving you to risk
Another chance
Sweetness and pain
Summer sun and autumn rain
The bramble does not seek to harm
It merely seeks to live
It injures without malice
Or intention
There’s no question of forgiveness
No apology, no pardon
For minor wounds too numerous
To mention
Sweetness and pain
Winter winds return again
Sharp black thorns
Concealed and smoothed
By softly falling snow
Drops of blood
Like bright red flowers
This hurt will pass
Just let it go
Sweetness and pain
Shake it off and start again
