Please don't cry 
For the ghost and the storm outside 
Will not invade this sacred shrine 
Nor infiltrate your mind 
My life down I shall lie 
If the bogey-man should try 
To play tricks on your sacred mind 
To tease, torment, and tantalise 
Wavering shadows loom 
A piano plays in an empty room 
There'll be blood on the cleaver tonight 
And when darknesss lifts and the room is bright 
I'll still be by your side 
For you are all that matters 
And I'll love you to till the day I die 
There never need be longing in your eyes 
As long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine 
Ceiling shadows shimmy by 
And when the wardrobe towers like a beast of prey 
There's sadness in your beautiful eyes 
Oh, your untouched, unsoiled, wonderous eyes 
My life down I shall lie 
Should restless spirits try 
To play tricks on your sacred mind 
I once had a child, and it saved my life 
And I never even asked his name 
I just looked into his wondrous eyes 
And said : "never never never again" 
And all too soon I did return 
Just like a moth to a flame 
So rattle my bones all over the stones 
I'm only a beggar-man whom nobody owns 
Oh, see how words as old as sin 
Fit me like a glove 
I'm here and here I'll stay 
Together we lie, together we pray 
There never need be longing in your eyes 
As long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine 
As long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine 
Mine 
Climb up on my knee, sonny boy 
Although you're only three, sonny boy 
You're - you're mine 
And your mother she just never knew
Oh, your mother ... 
As long ... as long ... as long 
I did my best for her 
I did my best for her 
As long ... as long ... as long as ... as long 
I did my best for her 
I did my best for her 
Oh ...