Spread The Word

Woman 1: I heard a rumor yesterday
All: From who?
Woman 1: You know that I can’t say
Woman 1: She spoke about the poor accused
Woman 3: You mean the witch!
Woman 1: But we don’t know that’s true

Woman 1: I’ve heard she’s helped many of us
That woman come
To have things done
And we can trust her

Woman 2: Well, that’s not what I’ve heard at all
Woman 4: What then?
Woman 2: She works among a dark cabal
They bathe themselves in children’s blood
That’s why she never has enough

Woman 4: Oh God please say that isn’t true
Woman 1: Oh please
Perhaps she has horns too?
And drags a tail under her dress
Woman 3: You laugh but can you disprove this?

Woman 2: She vanished when she was thirteen
4 years ago she’s back again
And now our children disappear
You can’t tell me that isn’t queer

ALL
What you’ve heard is only half the story
The rest is left in purgatory
Until it's time
To pull the twine

We braid the threads until they’re bound forever
The truth is something that we stitch together
We spread the word
What have you heard?

Woman 3: I heard she drove her mother mad
Woman 2: Her pious father left in tatters
Woman 1: Well James rebuilt their family name
Woman 4: But Aaron’s still broken
All: Such a shame

Woman 1: Miriam dear, who are you knitting that for?
Woman 2: Can your hope chest fit anything more?

Woman 4: My Sam would be four years today. This would suit him, wouldn’t you say?

Woman 3: My Abigail always loved red, soaked onion skins to dye this thread.
Woman 1: It’s lovely, and you’ve such fine knitting. When she returns it will be so fitting.

Woman 4: Why is Miriam still a maid?
Woman 1: An orphan girl has fewer ways
To be well matched.
Woman 3: It’s such a waste
She’s young and fair, and also chaste

Woman 4: And Aaron walks her home each day
Why is it that they’re not engaged?
Woman 3: Yes it’s clear she’s being courted
Father Haskett won’t support it?

Woman 2: She’s not as perfect as she seems
You know where walking home can lead
You did not hear this from me
But Miriam is keeping secrets

ALL
What you’ve heard is only half the story
The rest is left in purgatory
Until it's time
To pull the twine

We braid the threads until they’re bound forever
The truth is something that we stitch together
Talk of the town
Join in round
We spread the word
What have you heard?

Woman 1: Sympathetic
Woman 2: Superstitious
Woman 3: Gullible
Woman 4: Scared