Appears on: She Must and Shall Go Free

Lyrics:

If you could love me as a wife
And for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I’d ever need?
Or is there more I’m looking for

And should I read between the lines
And look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want?

[Chorus]
‘Cause I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
And I run down the aisle, I run down the aisle
I’m a prodigal with no way home
But I put you on just like a ring of gold
And I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child?
Though I don’t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
And with the other in your side
‘Cause I am so easily satisfied
By the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

[Chorus x2]

Because money cannot buy
A husband’s jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife

[Chorus x2]

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Purchase: iTunes Store

Words and Music: Derek Webb
©2002 Niphon, Inc. (Admin by Music Services). All right reserved. Used by permission. ASCAP

Additional Musicians:

• Phil Madeira: Accordion, lap steel

Derek on the song:

“(After editing out ‘damned’ from “Saint and Sinner“) … everybody was fine and got back on board, except for one small regional chain down in the South. They basically came back and said that “Wedding Dress” was still an issue for them, and the language therein. And that, on the other hand, is a fight that I am willing to fight. I did not take the same kind of liberty, that is not a lighthearted song, and I think it’s appropriate. If I can get up in front of my church, in front of my pastor and families and children and explain and sing that song, and feel encouraged, then I’m not going to think twice about playing it anywhere else. If my church is okay with it, and my wife is okay with it, then everybody else can get in line behind them. And so we left it that way. And the label was supportive and even other retail chains that had originally had issues with the record were behind us not changing any other lyrics, especially on “Wedding Dress.” And so it stayed that way. So, I think initially there will be maybe just one chain that will not be carrying the record. But we still have a really great open dialogue with them, and I definitely understand where they’re coming from, and so I hope that at some point in the near future we’re going to be able to turn that around and maybe get it in those stores. I haven’t given up on that, it’s not like we’re gonna just kind of be the martyrs or something. I want people to hear this record. I’m not interested as much in that controversy, but if it comes along, we’re gonna definitely make sure people know the real story, we’re not gonna let that controversy control us.
—Derek Webb, in an interview with CMusicWeb.com’s Jason Ewert, regarding Mardel’s decision not to carry She Must and Shall Go Free

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