And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they would not sever
My apple tree, my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather
When my family thinks
That I'm safely in my bed
From morn until night
I am stretched at your head
Calling out to the earth
With tears hot and wild
For the loss of the girl
That I loved as a child
Do you remember the night
Oh, the night we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn
And the cold chill of frost
Oh, and thanks be to Jesus
We did all that was right
And your maiden head still
Is your pillar of light
The priests and the friars
They approach me in dread
Because I love you still
Oh, my love and you're dead
I still will be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm
So I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they would not sever
My apple tree, my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather
Sinéad O’Connor (8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was an Irish singer, songwriter, and activist. Her debut studio album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released in 1987 and achieved international chart success.
The Dublin performer released 10 studio albums. Her 1990 album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was her biggest commercial success, selling over seven million copies worldwide, while her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. Her version of the ballad, written by musician Prince, topped the charts around the globe and earned her three Grammy nominations.
Consistently, O'Connor drew attention to issues such as child abuse, human rights, racism, organised religion, and women's rights. During a Saturday Night Live performance in 1992, she tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II to protest against abuse in the Catholic Church, sparking controversy. She would refuse to play the US national anthem before her concerts, drawing further public scorn. Throughout her musical career, she openly discussed her spiritual journey, activism, socio-political viewpoints, and her experiences with trauma and struggles with mental health.
After converting to Islam in 2018, she adopted the name Shuhada' Sadaqat while continuing to perform and record under her birth name.
References
