<<The way she phrases "that he sang her to" scans very funny as text on a page. >>
True, but it's not really isolated that way when you're reading it on the page, it's more like: While the song that he sang her To soothe her to sleep Which scans pretty easily. But I see your point, and relating back to my earlier comment, your basic cliche hack (like Neil Diamond) would say: Songs you sang to me Songs you brang to me Which you certainly wouldn't want to have for a mantra. Now, can we take this another step along and look at "Edith & The Kingpin" & the "wires in the wall humming some song, some mysterious song". Is there any relationship between the song sung in "Electricity" and the wires in the wall? The "mantra", as you suggest? Is she even referring to electrical wires, or something different? Are they the same "wires in the wall" in Man From Mars? So much Joni, so little time... Bob NP: Gary Scruggs/John Prine, "City of New Orleans"
