I Am Stretched On Your Grave
Sinead O'Connor · She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide U
And will lie there forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure we'd not sever
My apple tree my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather
When my family thinks
That I'm safe in my bed
From night until morning
I am stretched at your head
Calling out to the air
With tears hot and wild
My grief for the girl
That I loved as a child
Do you remember
The night we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn
And the chill of the frost
Thanks be to Jesus
We did what was right
And your maiden head still
Is your pillar of light
The priests and the friars
Approach me in dread
Because I still love you
My love and you're dead
I still would be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm
So I'm stretched on your grave
And will lie there forever
If you hands were in mine
I'd be sure we'd not sever
My apple tree my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather
I Am Stretched On Your Grave
Sinead O'Connor's 1990 single 'I Am Stretched On Your Grave' stands as a defining moment in her career, blending punk energy with spiritual introspection. Recorded for her album 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got,' the track features her signature raw vocal delivery and confrontational style, characteristic of her work during the early 1990s. The song explores themes of grief, mortality, and the burden of memory, delivered with a ferocity that challenged mainstream radio standards. It remains a cornerstone of her discography, reflecting her ability to merge personal anguish with broader social commentary. The recording captures the essence of her transition from folk roots to a more aggressive, rock-infused sound that would define her later work.