Lyrics

​vi. the berries and the plums SUSAN ​i spent the whole day on the dusty floor ​reading every page ​it was the story of my grandmama and grandpapa: ​how they met and fell in love ​and how they parted as they were fleeing latvia— ​russians on one side, nazis on the other ​a hay truck escape ​as the berries and plums of their orchard ​were bursting with ​ripeness ​(as grandmother takes the stage and sings, grandfather appears, working at a forgе.) GRANDMOTHER ​a summer day ​wooden fencе against a clear blue sky ​flowers and bees ​burnt yellow grass beneath white birch trees ​a hay truck is waiting ​there's no room for our bags ​cannon fire coming closer ​his eyes so far away ​he lays me down in the hay ​rests his fingers upon my cheek ​smiles so sweetly ​as he breaks my heart ​and says GRANDFATHER ​i can't leave yet ​the berries and the plums ​their harvest time has come ​you must sail away without me ​and i'll come and find you both ​when all the work i have is done ​some day ​when all my troubles here are over GRANDMOTHER ​he always had a darkness ​demons lurking underneath his skin ​everyone knew ​the sadness he hid behind a grin ​late nights in the barn ​pounding metal, drinking wine ​stumbling through the smoke ​burning his arm against the forge ​i'd listen at the door ​hear his screams and sobs ​and whisper to the child inside of me ​help me pray for him GRANDFATHER & SUSAN ​i can't leave yet GRANDFATHER ​the berries and the plums ​their harvest time has come ​you must sail away without me ​and i'll come and find you both ​when all the work i have is done GRANDFATHER & SUSAN ​some day ​when all my troubles here are over GRANDMOTHER ​oh what a roman it would make ​and though i knew ​that the harvest would go unpicked ​that my love had given up on himself ​that he had lost his fight ​i kiss him on the neck ​right under his ear ​knowing it's the last time ​and the last thing i'll hear is ALL ​i can't leave yet ​the berries and the plums ​their harvest time has come ​you must sail away without me ​and i'll come and find you both ​when all the work i have is done ​some day ​when all my troubles here are over GRANDFATHER & SUSAN ​some day ​when all my troubles here are over