The Ballad of Sol O'Connor

**Saveman** · 31-Aug-06, 22:26

In 1857, a little boy was born
so poor were his family, they tried to keep him warm
No food upon the table, no carpet on the floor
imagine these surroundings, too raise a little boy

His name was Sol O’Connor, a secret he must keep,
or the neighbours that surround him, would kill him in his sleep
he worked the land and laboured, for his fathers only farm,
as he grew up to be able, to protect them all from harm

but when he turned just twenty, his mother old and grey,
the neighbours came a callin' and took it all away,

morning comes once a day, evening comes once a day, but my lifes over, then let me say, that just one kiss will do before I pay.

they bound him and they tied him, to a tree they led him up
the neighbours blood was boiling for the young life of the boy,
so different from the others, so dark, so strong and tall,
so foreign from the others, he didn't belong at all

when they asked him lastly, if he had just one last wish,
before they strung the rope around him, he asked for just one kiss

morning comes once a day, evening comes once a day, but my lifes over, then let me say, that just one kiss will do before I pay

They asked him who he thought of, when he asked for just one kiss
they saw no fear no trembling, as he made his last wish,
he told them of his woman, his only pride and joy,
the lady he was fond of, since childhood as a boy

they curse and swore, disgusted, at this revealing sin
for the woman who he thought of, had a different skin
unnatural and trouble, this love that cannot be,
they cursed him and struck him as they hung him on that tree,

but death was not his way out, from this demented crowd,
his strength he used in anger, and shouted it out loud,

morning comes once a day, evening comes once a day, but my lifes over, then let me say, that just one kiss will do before I pay.

he fought and pushed his way out, of the angry mob,
he tore at his bindings, his heart began to throb,
he knew that his time here, was very short indeed
to find that lovely woman, and with her he would plead

he killed a man in passing, he didn’t mean it though
all he cared for was her, then his sight began to go,
then silence followed screaming, as sudden she appeared,
in tears she ran to met him, for her he no more feared.

But past she went and knelt down by the fallen man
He’d killed her father openly, her eyes on him now ran
“Why ever did you do it? I never loved you now
Or ever in the future, I’ll get you back somehow!”

The hatred in her eyes, tore his heart in two,
He wished for only happiness, but now his fear it grew.
For up again they took him, the tree was now in sight
But this time never fighting, no question now of flight

The rope they strung around him, his neck was held in tight
His black skin was spat upon, and in the fading light,
he saw her looking back at him, with malice in her eyes
And finally before he died, the love inside him cried:

morning comes once a day, evening comes once a day, if my life’s over, then let me say, that just one kiss will do before I pay.