The Waterboys - The Wedding lyrics

The father who sired her handed her over The crack-handed orchestra played The bride and the groom stood shoulder-to-shoulder As the ill-starred wedding was made She lifted her veil as the groom gently kissed her And all did appear to be well But the limousine driver heard every harsh whisper As they drove to the country hotel In the grand hotel ballroom the guests were a**embling The champagne like tapwater flowed The men wearing top hats, and fop coats and top coats The women in bustles and bows The bride And sneered as the couple came in The maitre-de coughed and said The banquet is about to begin? The street doors burst open and an army of footman Swept in bearing salvers and trays Fiddlers and clowns went from table to table Amid black smoke and cigarette haze Noone saw the best man as he secretly winked At the bride And then cried out And more marilyn monroe ice-cream? When the wine had been poured and the tables were cleared The toasts and the speeches began The bride and groom cut the cake, everyone cheered! Then all eyes fell on the best man. He climbed off his chair, and he licked his cracked lips And declared in a voice cold and dry This day is a sham and a lie? Her father leapt up with a curse and a roar And slew the best man in the head The groom cried His father-in-law fell down dead The bride ran screaming in floods of bright tears And collapsed at the foot of the stairs Where her sister was waiting with scissors and shears And hacked off every inch of her hair. Up on the roof sat seven fat crows, the moon rose low in the west. The groom was arrested still in his wedding clothes And hanged in his pants and his vest The bald-headed bride bought a ticket to spain And eloped with a wig-makers son While her jealous mad sister, riven with shame Became a nun!