When I first saw the child brides Two bridegroom boys at their side Genevieve in union with holy communion Marriage the younger wife And the child brides went down to the water Neptune calls out to his daughters Throw yourself at the tide I'll see you on the other side In a loveless marriage when I was fourteen All brained knees and black knees Then you come round here with your fancy talk and your big ideas What have you done with your wives? And the child brides went down to the water Neptune calls out to his daughters Throw yourself at the tide I'll see you on the other side Bride of Christ, bride of Jesus Bride of the fish when your fathoms down And the uncles and the brothers With their Sunday suits on Search the villages and towns But the child brides, etc.