Not a soul was stirrin'
Not a bird was singin'
Least not within my hearin'
I was five minutes past carin'
Standing in the road just starin'

Thought I heard somebody pleadin'
Thought I heard someone apologize
Some fell down weepin'

Others shook their fists up at the skies
And those who were left
Seemed to be wearing disguises

Now there's a queen in waitin'
Not enough lovin' and too much hatin'
Was the prince hidden within her man?
Always seems to be hesitatin'

He said, "Let her go, let her go, God bless her
She hasn't been gone long enough for me to miss her
Except every minute of every hour of every day
When I wish I could possess her"

40 days passed by, 40 alibis
So carry on that way
And in time you'll pay
But we'll all be together
Come Ascension Day

Not a hound was howlin'
Or whimperin' or prowlin'
Now the wind had departed
Not a leaf was hangin' on the tree
Like when it started

But I know they will return
Like they've never gone away
Come Ascension Day

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, Regard Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): ALLEN TOUSSAINT, ELVIS COSTELLO, ROY BYRD