J. Tillman Diamondback lyrics

Something broke through the brindled soil
Rattling the grass
Spittin' like coal
My spade came down across his spine
a terrible fear flew across his eyes
I said we both have lives that we are owed
You can own an acre, but not what it grows

I gave no heed when I got in,
Had bread and tea and then the beast got skinned

Diamond skin on a hickory post
Blowin' like a curse in the knee high rows
I never in my life had seen
the kind of rain we got that spring

A flood washed up every rainbow snake
And I was soon begging them to let me stay

They gave no heed when I got in,
they said You can hunt hares in our garden.
You can hunt hares in our garden.

Who will love a loveless thing
Betrayed by God, exiled by beast
I can hear you in the floorboards deep in the night
You could have freed me and redeemed your life