Richard Thompson

For the sake of Mary

Richard Thompson


For the sake of Mary I kicked the reds 
Junked the juice, I drink coffee instead 
Straightened my teeth, bent my back 
Cut my friends dead from the old rat-pack 
For Mary 

She bought me this silk suit, watch and chain 
She put the rhythm in my stride again 
She showed me the way to make her feel good 
If I could do more then I surely would 
For Mary. Ah, for Mary. 

For the sake of Mary I played my hand 
She still don't trust me to be her man 
I say the right thing but my timing's bad 
She thinks I'm like the rest, but I'm the best she's ever had 
For the sake of Mary 
For the sake of Mary 

Oh I was cook first class on the Belfast B 
But when she sailed she sailed without me 
In Needle Pete's I got my last tatoo 
In bleeding letters of red and blue 
For Mary 
Ah, for Mary 

For the sake of Mary I changed my drift 
I got a good job on the graveyard shift 
She set her heart on a pretty little place 
I want to see the tears of joy on her face, oh-oh 
For the sake of Mary 

For the sake of Mary I keep the flame 
I don't want to be a villain again 
She had her bad times and it shook her about 
I don't want to take the easy way out, no, no 
For the sake of Mary 
For the sake of Mary 
For the sake of Mary 
For the sake of Mary 
For the sake of Mary