The Ballad of Mary Magdalene

by Richard Shindell

I first heard this song performed live by Mr. Shindell. When he performed it, it brought tears to my eyes. Agnostic though I may be, I'm a sucker for a tragic romance.

My name is Mary Magdalene
I come from Palestine
Please excuse these rags I'm in
But I've fallen on hard times *
Long ago I had my work
When I was in my prime
But I gave it up, and all for love
It was his career or mine

Jesus loved me, this I know
Why on earth **did I ever let him go
He was always faithful
He was always kind
But he walked off with this heart of mine

(repeat)

I remember nights we spent
Whispering our creed
Our rituals, our sacrament
The stars our canopy *
There beneath an olive tree
We'd offer up our plea
God's creation innocent
His arms surrounding me

CHORUS

A love like this will come but once
This I do believe
And I'll not see his like again
As I live and breathe *
I'm sorry if I might offend
But I will never see
How the tenderness I shared with him
Became a heresy

Jesus loved me, this I know
Why on earth **did he ever have to go
He was always faithful
He was always kind
But he walked off with this heart of mine
He was always faithful
He was always kind
But he walked off with this heart of mine