Mother I can hear your foot-fall now 
Soft disturbance in the dead-fall how 
It proceeds you like a black smoke pall 
Still the wanting comes in waves 
And you delivered me from danger then 
Pulled my cradle from the reedy glen 
Swore to save me from the world of men 

Still the wanting comes in waves 
In waves 
And waves 
And the wanting comes in waves 
And the wanting comes in waves 

And I want this night 
And I want this night 
Oh 

How I made you 
I wrought you, I pulled you 
From war I labored you 
From cancer I cradled you 
And now 

This is how I am repaid 
This is how I am repaid 

Remember when I found you 
The miseries that hounded you 
And I gave you motion 
Anointed with lotions 
And now 

This is how I am repaid 
This is how I am repaid 

Mother hear this proposition right 
Grant me freedom to enjoy this night 
And I'll return to you at break of light 
For the wanting comes in waves 
And waves 
And waves 
Still the wanting comes in waves 
Still the wanting comes in waves 
Still the wanting comes in waves 
And you owe me life 
And you owe me life 

And if I grant you this favor to hand you 
Your life for the evening 
I will retake by morning 
And so 
Consider it your debt repaid 
Consider it your debt repaid 
Repaid 
Repaid