Claire's Lament Lyrics

A desk by the window is empty today

"Claire's not here Miss", I heard Charlotte say

The classroom is silent and no one knows why

Mrs Johnson is wiping the tears from her eyes

A door slowly opens

The Headmaster walks in

In his hand is a paper

His expression is grim

I have some sad news, I'm sorry to say

Claire will be missing from school today

John Preston was yearning for artistic success

He travelled the world but he failed to impress

Rejection, frustration and anger within

Destroyed the creations that were precious to him

He abandoned ambition

For a quieter life

In a Worcestershire village

With his children and wife

But demons of failure haunted his head

He'd fight with the gun, kept under his bed

The cottage was blazing; men broke down the door

The gun and John Preston were laid on the floor

His wife in her nightdress, at the foot of the stairs

His dog and son Stephen were slumped in a chair

And there in the back room

"Asleep" on her bed

An angel lies peaceful

With a hole in her head

"She sat by the window", I heard Charlotte say

Claire will be missing from school today