“How a Resurrection Really Feels” by the Hold Steady
her parents named her Halleluiah,
but the kids all called her Holly.
if she scared you then she’s sorry.
she’s been stranded at these parties.
these parties they start lovely
but they get druggy
and they get ugly
and they get bloody.the priest just kinda laughed.
the deacon caught a draft.
she crashed into the Easter Mass
with her hair done up in broken glass.
she was limping left on broken heels.
when she said,
“father can i tell yr congregation how a resurrection really feels?”Holly was a hoodrat.
now you finally know that.
she’s been disappeared for years.
today she finally came back.
she said: “st. louis had enslaved me.
i guess santa ana saved me.
st. peter had me on the queue.
the st. paul saints they waved me thru.
i was all wrapped up in some video booth
when i heard her say ‘i love you too.’”she said, “i’ve laid beneath my lovers
but i’ve never gotten laid.”
some nites she felt protected.
some nites she felt afraid.
she spent half last winter justa trying to get paid
from some guy she’d originally thought to be her saviour.they wrote her name in magic marks.
on stopsigns and subway cars.
they got a mural up on e. 13th.
that said, “Halleluiah rest in peace.”Halleluiah was a hoodrat.
and now you finally know that.
she’s been disappeared for years.
today she finally came back.walk on back.
walk on back.
she said, “don’t turn me on again.
i’d probably just go and get myself all gone again.”
Holly was a sexy mess.
she looked strung-out but experienced
so we all got kind of curious.
Posted by Mike Wagenman 