Cross-Eyed Mary Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Who would be a poor man, a beggarman, a thief
If he had a rich man in his hand
And who would steal the candy
From a laughing baby's mouth
If he could take it from the money man
[Chorus 1]
Cross-eyed Mary
Goes jumping in again
She signs no contract
But she always plays the game
She dines in Hampstead village
On expense accounted gruel
And the jack-knife barber
Drops her off at school
Hey
[Verse 2]
Laughing in the playground
Gets no kicks from little boys
Would rather make it with a letching grey
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through the railings as they play
Hey
Who would be a poor man, a beggarman, a thief
If he had a rich man in his hand
And who would steal the candy
From a laughing baby's mouth
If he could take it from the money man
[Chorus 1]
Cross-eyed Mary
Goes jumping in again
She signs no contract
But she always plays the game
She dines in Hampstead village
On expense accounted gruel
And the jack-knife barber
Drops her off at school
Hey
[Verse 2]
Laughing in the playground
Gets no kicks from little boys
Would rather make it with a letching grey
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through the railings as they play
Hey
[Chorus 2]
Cross-eyed Mary
Finds it hard to get along
She's a poor man's rich girl
And she'll do it for a song
She's a rich man stealer
But her favour's good and strong
She's the Robin Hood of Highgate
Helps the poor man get along
Hey
[Flute Solo]
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Laughing in the playground
Gets no kicks from little boys
Would rather make it with a letching grey
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through the railings as they play
Hey
[Chorus 1]
Cross-eyed Mary
Goes jumping in again
She signs no contract
But she always plays the game
She dines in Hampstead village
On expense accounted gruel
And the jack-knife barber
Drops her off at school
Hey
Cross-eyed Mary
Finds it hard to get along
She's a poor man's rich girl
And she'll do it for a song
She's a rich man stealer
But her favour's good and strong
She's the Robin Hood of Highgate
Helps the poor man get along
Hey
[Flute Solo]
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Laughing in the playground
Gets no kicks from little boys
Would rather make it with a letching grey
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through the railings as they play
Hey
[Chorus 1]
Cross-eyed Mary
Goes jumping in again
She signs no contract
But she always plays the game
She dines in Hampstead village
On expense accounted gruel
And the jack-knife barber
Drops her off at school
Hey
[Outro]
Cross-eyed Mary
Oh Mary
Oh Cross-eyed Mary
Cross-eyed Mary
Oh Mary
Oh Cross-eyed Mary
About
Genius Annotation
“‘Cross-Eyed Mary’ is a song about another form of low life, but more humorous. It’s about a schoolgirl prostitute but not in such coarse terms. She goes with dirty old men because she’s doing them a favour, giving people what they want because it makes them happy. It’s a fun kind of song.”
-Ian Anderson in Disc and Music Echo, 20th March 1971.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Aqualung
- 2.Cross-Eyed Mary
- 4.Mother Goose
- 6.Up to Me
- 7.My God
- 8.Hymn 43
- 9.Slipstream
- 11.Wind-Up
Credits
Producers
Writer
Release Date
March 19, 1971
Cross-Eyed Mary Covers
Cross-Eyed Mary Live Performances
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