The Janitor´s Boy-Live Version.

This live performance of "The Janitor's Boy" was filmed in Knoxville, TN on August 31st, 2010 as part of Natalie's "Leave Your Sleep" summer tour. Poem by Nathalia Crane. Filmed and edited by Dominic DeJoseph.

To Love is to Bury.

To Love is to Bury" performed with Jeff Bird on violin for the 20th anniversary DVD of the Trinity Session by The Cowboy Junkies. Directed by François & Pierre Lamoureux.

Leave Your Sleep.

No Good Reason.

This documentary film follows a three-day recording session in Boston, MA in August of 2006 for the benefit album, Give Us Your Poor. The song No Good Reason was written by Nichole Cooper (when she was homeless at 15-years-old) and recorded with a band primarily made up of homeless musicians. Directed by award-winning documentarian Michael Mierendorf and edited by Lawrence Marshall.

Songs Against Drilling

Songs Against Drilling: With a blend of interviews and concert footage, the filmmaker Alex Gibney covers an anti-hydraulic fracturing rally and accompanying benefit concert featuring Natalie Merchant and Mark Ruffalo.
One day in April, I got a call from Natalie Merchant wondering if I would round up some volunteers to film an anti-hydraulic-fracturing concert and rally in Albany. I couldn't resist. First of all, I had thought for some time that the rush to hydraulic fracturing was reckless. Second, I really liked Natalie's idea: mounting a kind of "teach-in" about the topic and a celebration of the activists who had spread the word about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing . Most of the recent political discourse is so grim, shrill and angry. Here, wonderful rocking voices — and man do they soar! — would shake the windows and rattle the walls in Albany, even as Gov. Andrew Cuomo was deciding what to do about hydraulic fracturing . The last song is Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People," which includes the lyrics: "My own beliefs are in my song."

Alex Gibney is a documentary filmmaker whose directing credits include the 2007 Oscar-winning film "Taxi to the Dark Side" and the 2005 Oscar-nominated film "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room."

Natalie Merchant - Verdi Cries

Natalie Merchant - These Are Days

These are the days
These are days you'll remember.
Never before and never since, 
I promise, will the whole world be warm as this. 
And as you feel it, you'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are days you'll remember. 
When May is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour. You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are days.
These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break. 
These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face. 
And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be.
See the signs and know their meaning.
It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be. 
Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you.

Life is Sweet Live

"Life is Sweet" from the VH1 Storytellers concert DVD featuring Chris Botti on trumpet.

10000 Maniacs (Natalie Merchant) singing The Latin One on The Word

Fantastic clip of a rare 10000 Maniacs song performed live.

Wonder sing-a-long, Natalie Merchant and The Hole in the Wall Gang Campers

Directed by McG (Charlie's Angels), this is the music video of Wonder (Sing-A-Long) performed by Natalie Merchant & The Hole in the Wall Gang Campers. The song celebrates the 25th anniversary of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut and can be downloaded at www.holeinthewallgang.org. Show your support by sharing our song and help thousands of sick kids experience "a different kind of healing."

"The House Carpenter's Daughter" (2003).

"Sally Ann"

A woman of beauty

A woman of pain

In France or Jakarta

Her shadow's the same

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home

A woman of kindness

With bracelets of jade

In China, in Japan

Choices are made

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home

A woman of chances

With no family or friends

In Argentina

She knows only men

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home

A woman of color

With debts to be paid

In Trenton or Detroit

She lives by the blade

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home with Sally Ann

You go home

"Which Side Are You On?"

Come all you good workers

Good news to you I'll tell

Of how the good old union

Has come in here to dwell

Which side are you on boys?

Which side are you on?

My daddy was a miner

He's now in the air and sun

He'll be with you fellow workers

Until the battle's won

Which side are you on boys?

Which side are you on?

They say in Harlan County

There are no neutrals there

You'll either be a union man

Or a thug for J. H. Claire

Which side are you on boys?

Which side are you on?

Oh workers can you stand it?

Oh tell me how you can

Will you be a lousy scab

Or will you be a man?

Which side are you on boys?

Which side are you on?

Don't scab for the bosses

Don't listen to their lies

Poor folks ain't got a chance

Unless they organize

Which side are you on boys?

Which side are you on?

"Crazy Man Michael"

Within the fire

And out upon the sea

Crazy man Michael was walking

He met with a raven

With eyes black as coal

And shortly they were talking

"your future, your future

I will tell to you

Your future

You often have asked me

Your true love will die

By your own right hand

And crazy man Michael

Will cursed be"

Michael he ranted

And Michael he raved

And he beat at the four winds

With his fists-o

He laughed and he cried

He shouted and he swore

For his mad mind

Entrapped him with a fist-hold

"you speak with an evil

You speak with a hate

You speak for the devil

That haunts me

For is she not the fairest

In all the broad land?

Your sorcerer's words

Are to taunt me"

He took out his dagger

Of fine and broad steel

And he struck down the raven

Through the heart-o

The bird fluttered long

And the sky it did spin

And this cold earth did

Wander 'round startled

Oh where is the raven

That I struck down dead

And here did lye

On the ground-o?

I see my true love

With a wound so red

Where her lover's heart

It did pound-o

Crazy man Michael

He wanders I'm told

And he talks through

The night and the day-o

But his eyes they are sane

And his speech is plain

But he longs to be far away-o

Michael he whistles

The simplest of tunes

As he asks of the wild wolves

Their pardon

But his true love has flown

Into every flower grown

And he must be keeper

Of the garden

"Diver Boy"

Young Emily was fair lady bright

She loved her diver boy
Who sailed over the ocean
To gather up some gold
Seven long years returning,
His money for to show
He'd been sailing over the main
Down in the low land, low


"my father runs a big hotel
Down by the river side
You go there go for to stay
And I shall be your bride
Meet me early morning
Don't let my parents know
You have been the diver boy
Down in the low land, low"


Young Henry taking a drink
That night before he went to bed
Not thinking of the danger
That crowned all over his head
Young Edward said to his father,
"let's take his money sure
And send his body sinking fast
Down in the low land, low"


Young Emily went to be that night
She dreamed an awful dream
She dreamed she saw
Her true love's blood
Go flowing down the stream
Waking early morning
To parents she did say,
"where could be that stranger boy
Who came here for to stay?"


"oh, father you're a robber
You robbed me of my wren!
Oh brother you have murdered
The one that I loved best!
The trees on yonder mountain
Are bending to and fro
They remind me of my diver boy
Down in the low land, low"

"Weeping Pilgrim & Soldier, Soldier"

If you see them father

Please tell them

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

Well I weep and I moan

And I move slowly on

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

If you see them sister

Please tell them

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

Well I weep and I moan

And I move slowly on

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

If you see them brother

Please tell them

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

Well I weep and I moan

And I move slowly on

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

If you see them mother

Please tell them

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

Well I weep and I moan

And I move slowly on

I'm a poor mourning pilgrim

Bound for Canaan land

"Soldier, Soldier"

Said, "soldier, now soldier

Would you marry me

Before the fight comes on?"

"how can I marry

Such a pretty little girl

When I got no suit to put on?"

Well she went to the dry goods store

Hard as she could run

She bought the finest

Little suit in the store,

"come on soldier put this on"

Said, "soldier, now soldier

Would you marry me

Before the fight comes on?"

"how can I marry

Such a pretty little girl

When I got no shoes to put on"

Well she went to the dry goods store

Hard as she could run

She bought the finest

Little shoes in the store

"come on soldier put these on"

Said, "soldier, now soldier

Would you marry me

Before the fight comes on?"

"how can I marry

Such a pretty little girl

When I got no hat to put on?"

Well she went to the dry goods store

Hard as she could run

She bought the finest

Little hat in the store

"come on soldier put this on"

Said, "soldier, now soldier

Would you marry me

Before the fight comes on?"

"how can I marry

Such an ugly little girl

When I got a pretty wife at home?"

"Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow"

Well, my heart is sad

And I am lonesome

For the only one I love

When shall we meet?

Oh no never

Till we meet in heaven above

So bury me underneath the willow

Under the weeping willow tree

So that he may know

Where I am sleeping

And perhaps he'll weep for me

Well, he told me that

He dearly loved me

Oh how could it be untrue?

Until the angels softly whispered,

"he will prove untrue to you"

So bury me underneath the willow

Under the weeping willow tree

So that he may know

Where I am sleeping

And perhaps he'll weep for me

Well, tomorrow was to be

Our wedding day

But oh my god

Where can he be?

He's out a courting with another

And no longer cares for me

So bury me underneath the willow

Under the weeping willow tree

So that he may know

Where I am sleeping

And perhaps he'll weep for me

"House Carpenter"

"well met, well met
And I know true love
Well met, well met", said he
"I'm just returning from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the love of thee"


"come in, come in
My own true love
And have a seat with me
It's been three-fourths
Of a long, long year
Since together we have been"


"no I can't come in
And I can't sit down
For I have but a moment's time
They say that you're married
To a house carpenter
And your heart shall never be mine"


"well I could have married
The king's daughter fair
She would have married me
But I forsaked upon
Her crowns of gold
And it's all for the love of thee"


"now will you forsake on
Your house carpenter
And go along with me?
I'll take you where
The grass grows green
On the banks of the bitter reeds"


She pick'd up her wee little babe
And kisses, gave it three saying,
"stay right here my darling little one
Keep your papa company"


Now they had not been
On the ship two weeks
I swear it was not three
When his true love began
To weep and moan
And she wept most bitterly


"are you weeping
For my silver and gold
Are you weeping for my store or are
You weeping for that house carpenter
That you ne'er shall see no more?"




"a curse on the sailor she swore
A curse, a curse she swore
You robbed me of my sweet little babe
That I never shall see no more!"


Well, they had not been
On the ship three weeks
I swear it was not four
Until there came a leak in the ship
And she sank
To rise no more...

"Owensboro"

Well, I lived in a town
Way down south
By the name of Owensboro
And I worked in a mill
With the rest of the "trash"
As we're often called
As you know


Well, we rise up early
In the morning
And we work all day real hard
To buy our little meat and bread
Buy sugar, tea, and lard


Well, our children
Grow up unlearned
With no time to go to school
Almost before they learn to walk
They learn to spin and spoon


Well, the folks in town
They dress so fine
And spend their money free
But they would hardly look
At a factory hand
Who dresses like you or me


Would you let them wear
Their watches fine
Let them wear their gems
And pearly strings


But when that day
Of judgement comes
They'll have to share
Their pretty things

"Down On Penny's Farm"

Come here ladies and gentleman

Listen to my song

Play it to you right

But you may think it wrong

May make you mad

But I mean no harm

It's just about the renters

On Penny's farm

It's a hard time in the country

Down on Penny's farm

Go into the fields

And you work all day

Deep into the night

But you get no pay

Promise you some meat

Or a little bucket of lard

It's hard to make a living

On Penny's farm

It's a hard time in the country

Down on Penny's farm

Hear George Penny

He'll be coming into town

With a wagon load of peaches

Not a one of them sound

Gotta get his money

Gotta get a check

Pay you for a bushel

But you never get a peck

It's a hard time in the country

Down on Penny's farm

George Penny's renters

They be coming into town

With their hands in their pockets

And their heads hanging down

Go to the merchant

And the merchant he'll say,

"your mortgage it is due

And I'm looking for my pay"

It's a hard time in the country

Down on Penny's farm

Deep into his pocket

With a trembling hand,

"can't pay you what I owe

But I'll pay you what I can"

Down to the merchant

And the merchant make a call

Put you on the chain gang

Don't pay at all

It's a hard time in the country

Down on Penny's farm

"Poor Wayfaring Stranger"

I am a poor wayfaring stranger

Travelling through this world of woe

But there's no sickness, toil or danger

In that bright land to which I go

Well I'm going there

To meet my mother

Said she'd meet me when I come

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds

Will gather 'round me

I know my way

Will be rough and steep

But beautiful fields lie just before me

Where God's redeemed

Their vigils keep

Well I'm going there

To meet my loved ones

Gone on before me, one by one

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home

I'll soon be free of earthy trials

My body rest in the old church yard

I'll drop this cross of self-denial

And I'll go singing home to God

Well I'm going there

To meet my Savior

Dwell with Him and never roam

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home.

Motherland. ( 2001).

This house is on fire.

Live performance from Rock IM Ring, Nurburgring, Germany 05/18/02

This House is on fire!

Kick off your boots, come and sit a spell

Listen to me worry, come and listen well

All you better best come and lean in boys

Cause I don't dare to raise my voice

I've been sitting here for the longest time

Reading all the warning and the danger signs

I don't have the gift of the prophecy

Telling everybody how it's gonna be

Soon come, soon come the day this tinderbox

Is gonna blow in your face

I don't have the gift of the prophecy

Telling everybody how it's gonna be

You go passing wrong for right and right for wrong

People only stand for that for just so long

It's all gonna catch like a house on fire

Spark an evil blaze and burn higher

Well, I don't have the gift of the prophecy

Telling everybody how it's gonna be

You go passing wrong for right and right for wrong

People only stand for that for just so long

I don't have the gift of the prophecy

Telling everybody how it's gonna be

There's a wild fire catching in the whip of the wind

That could start a conflagration

Like there has never been.

This house is on fire!

Motherland.

Where in hell can you go

Far from the things that you know

Far from the sprawl of concrete

That keeps crawling its way

About 1,000 miles a day?

Take one last look behind

Commit this to memory and mind

Don't miss this wasteland, this terrible place

When you leave

Keep your heart off your sleeve

Motherland cradle me

Close my eyes

Lullaby me to sleep

Keep me safe

Lie with me

Stay beside me

Don't go, don't you go

O, my five & dime queen

Tell me what have you seen?

The lust and the avarice

The bottomless, the cavernous greed

Is that what you see?

Motherland cradle me

Close my eyes

Lullaby me to sleep

Keep me safe

Lie with me

Stay beside me

Don't go

It's your happiness I want most of all

And for that I'd do anything at all, o mercy me!

If you want the best of it or the most of all

If there's anything I can do at all

Now come on shot gun bride

What makes me envy your life?

Faceless, nameless, innocent, blameless and free,

What's that like to be?

Motherland cradle me

Close my eyes

Lullaby me to sleep

Keep me safe

Lie with me

Stay beside me

Don't go, don't you go

Saint Judas.

Saddle up the horses and wear your Sunday best

Sing your Sacred Harp, you be holier than the rest

Fill up the room with a grand and a thunderous song

Let it rattle out the windows, let it spill out on the lawn

Shout, shout your praises to the man who kissed the Lord

To the back stabbing brother that betrayed all of this world

Your Judas!

Yea, though you may walk in the valley in the dark

There's no greater evil than the darkness in your heart

Your stun guns, bloodhounds, needle and your razor wire

Your nylon shackle whipping post and your high tech burning tire

Your Judas!

Whiplash crack across the back, across the arms

Although you bound his feet, he running fast he running hard

Through them crickets in the corn and them horses in the field

Hear the "caw, caw" of the crows

See the devil at the wheel y'all, Judas!

Go on down to Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas,

Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee,

Georgia, Carolina, Carolina.

Put the law on you.

Do I have to put the law on you baby
For all the wicked things you do?
Am I gonna have to put the law on you baby?
That was not what I wanted to do

Do I have to put the law on you baby
To try and make you come out clean for every evil deed?
You're just about the lowest and the dirtiest thing
I've ever seen

Did you really think you could pull it off
The perfect crime, crime of the heart?
Do you really think that you'll get away
Do the crime and never ever pay?

Do I have to put the law out on you baby
Lock you up and throw away the key
For the countless counts of low down double-cross you've been about
Have you no decency?

Did you really think that you could pull it off
The perfect crime, crime of the heart?
Did you really think that you'll get away
Escape my justice until you're dying day?

Though you made it clear from the very start
There was no trusting you with my foolish heart
Though you maybe made it clear that didn't make it right

Do you really think you'll get away?
You can't escape my justice 'til my dying day

Build a Levee.

When I was just a little girl my mamma said to me,

"beware of the devil my child

In the dark rocky places he'll keep

Beware of the devil my child

Beware of his charming ways

You'll fall under an evil spell

Just looking at his beautiful face

You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside"

"don't go walking by the riverside

Alone in the pale moonlight

He'll come up upon you girl

With no earthy body in sight

Come up upon you girl

And he'll whisper something sweet

Then take you where the waters rise

So high and run so deep."

"you gotta build yourself a levee deep inside

Gotta build yourself a levee deep inside

Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high"

Now when I was just a little girl my mamma said to me,

"beware of the devil my child

But if by chance you should meet

Beware of his cold dark eyes full of bold and unholy deceit

He'll tempt you with a whirling pool of lies and promises

He'll deny or that he will never keep"

"you gotta build yourself a levee deep inside

Gotta build yourself a levee deep inside

Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high"

Golden Boy.

Top of the fold
Toast of the town
Everyone stops when you come around
They hold their breath for you

Heroes are born
Idols are made
We're all fools for this factory fame
And you've got the brand new face

You've got the brand new face
Golden boy

Beauty untamed
Stupid and wild
Poster boy, you're society's child
Cut your teeth
Cut your mouth
Cut it out

Meteor rise from obscurity
All it took was a killing spree
And the whole world was lying at your feet
Golden boy

I know my place
Stick to my lines
Stay in your shadow
Don't block your light

So you can shine divine
Golden boy

Henry Darger

Who'll save the poor little girl?

Henry Darger

Henry Darger

Who'll save the poor little girl?

O, Henry...

Who'll tell the story of her?

Henry Darger

Henry Darger

Who'll tell it all to the world?

O, Henry...

Who'll buy the carbon paper now?

Henry Darger

Henry Darger

Who'll trace the lines of her mouth?

O, Henry...

Who will conquer foreign worlds

Searching for the stolen girls?

Princesses you'll never fear

The patron saint of girls is here!

Who will draw the calvary in

Risk his very own precious skin

To make our Angelinia a free and peaceful land again?

Henry

Who'll love a poor orphan child?

Henry Darger

Henry Darger

Lost, growing savage and wild?

O, Henry

O, Henry

O, Henry

The worst Thing.

So you're in love, that's so good for you

Live it up girl 'cause it never lasts too long

It's heaven for now, but not for long

It's gonna hurt you

It's gonna make you feel so bad 

Once I could love, I could trust, I could not doubt

But that was just about the worst thing that I could do

It was just about the worst thing that I could do 

Maybe not now, but it won't take long

Before it's gonna hurt you

And truly do you some harm 

Once I was open, could hope, I had no doubt

But that was the worst thing that I could do

It was just about the worst thing that I could do 

Once I came close to that most elusive fire

Burning with hopeless love and desire

But it was just about the worst thing that I could do

It was just about the worst thing I could do 

En el pasado que estuve ciega como tu

Atrapada y perdida, como tu

Embelesada y suspendida en mi jaula de plata

Esos recuerdos me accompanaran toda la vida 

(in the past I was blind as you,

Trapped and lost like you with no escape

Suspended in my silver cage

These memories will remain with you forever.)

Tell yourself.

I know what you tell yourself, you tell yourself.

Look in the mirror, look in the mirror what does it show?

I hear you counting

I know you're adding. adding up the score.

I know, oh yes I know what you tell yourself,

Tell yourself.

Ever since Eden we're built for pleasing everyone knows

And ever since Adam cracked his ribs and let us go

I know, oh yes I know what you tell yourself

Tell yourself

Who taught you how to lie so well

And to believe in each and every word you say?

Who told you that nothing about you is alright

It's just no use, it's just no good you'll never be O.K.?

Well I know, I know that wrong's been done to you

"It's such a tough world," that's what you say

Well I know, I know it's easier said than done

But that's enough girl, give it away,

Give it, give it all away

Tell yourself that you're not pretty

Look at you, you're beautiful.

Tell yourself that no one sees

Plain Jane invisible me, just tell yourself

Tell yourself you'll never be

Like the anorexic beauties in the magazines

Just a bargain basement Barbie Doll

No belle du jour, no femme fatale

Just tell yourself

Tell yourself there's nothing worse

Than the pain inside and the way it hurts

But tell yourself it's nothing new

Cause everybody feels it too

They feel it too

And there's just no getting 'round

The fact that you're thirteen right now

Just can last.

I swear I know your face,

I wish I knew your name

I wish I could take you by the hand

If I could name it

If I could just explain it

If I could only help you,

Help you understand

I can see that you're hurting

Weighed down like a beast of burden

About to break your back.

God only knows that you're human

So what are they trying to do then

Believe me, they don't understand

That you have the wieght of the world today

It's on your back

A heavy load like that is gonna hold you back

It's gonna drag you down

You know it just can't last, just can't

You know it just can't last

They thought they could use you

Push you down and abuse you

And what's so sad is you've decided to hide

All your feelings

Got more pain than you can deal with

But ask yourself how can this last

I know you have the weight of the world today

It's on your back

A heavy load like that is gonna hold you back

It's gonna drag you down

You know it just can't last, just can't

You know it just can't last

Not in this Life.

Lately I've been walking all alone
Through the wind and through the rain
Been walking through the streets
Finding sweet relief in knowing that it won't be long

Lately it's occurred to me
That I've had enough of that
And lately I've been satisfied by simple things
Like breathing in and breathing out

Never again, not in this life
Will I be taken twice
Never again, not on your life
Will I make that same mistake
I can't make it twice

Lately it's occurred to me
Exactly what went wrong
I realized I compromised, I sacrificed
Far too much for far too long

Never again, not in this life
Will I be taken twice
Never again, not on your life
Will I make that same mistake
I can't make it twice

Starting out from here today
Swear I'm gonna change my ways
Once mistaken in this life
But never twice

Never again, not in this life
Will I be taken twice
Never again, not on your life
Will I make that same mistake
Never again, not on your life
Will I make that same mistake
Can't make it twice

Starting out from here today...

I´m not gonna beg.

I'm not gonna beg you for nothing

I'm not gonna beg you for your love

Straight talk, give me the straight talk

Tell me what's on your mind if it ain't love

I'm not gonna beg you for nothing

I'm not gonna beg you for your love

Scared now, what are you scared of?

Afraid I might fall on my knees and break down?

I'm not gonna beg you for nothing

I'm not gonna beg you for your love

Don't you think you can take me for a pretty little ride

I know "once upon a time" and "ever after" is a lie

I'm not gonna beg

I'm not gonna beg

I'm not gonna beg you for nothing at all

There's nothing I want from you

Nothing you can say or do

There is nothing I want for you say anyway

I'm not gonna beg you for nothing

I'm not gonna beg you for your love