Am G I've watched her from the river banks Dm Em I knew her when she danced with dreams Bb Am White doves were there to dress her hair Bb E And so was Madelaine Am G At night the people's faces danced Dm Em Like pearls colliding on the breast Bb Am Of fat Marie whose thunder laugh E Am Was just a thread from crying F C Her sailors stained her cobblestones F Em F G With wine and piss and death desire F C And sometimes blood for Madelaine Bb E Whose laughter was the night A G Her girls would lift their dresses high D C D C and breathe the stars and kiss the sky A G She'd smother them with whispers then F E Embrace them with her sighs Am G Before the bottle dulled my eyes Dm Em And made me so I couldn't stand Bb Am I'd overact and play the clown E Am When Madelaine would cry F C And now I watch from riverbanks F Em F G I watch it weave it's memories F C White doves turned gray and flew away E Am And so did Madelaine