BUT ON THE OTHER HAND BABY
Just a quick song-fic, based on my favorite Season Two Episode, "Matters of State." Of course it's also a tribute to Mr. Ray Charles. I own none of Michael Hirst's great talent. Please comment nicely!
What is it about her?
Even as the sands run down in the hour glass, Harry can't make up his mind.
He knows that Anne must die. As a prince, a ruler, he knows his needs must come first. He needs an obedient queen, a meek companion and bed-servant who knows her place.
And he needs a son.
But the more he hates her, the more he wants her. The hotter he burns, the harder she works to fan the flames. Lately it seems they can't even touch each other without clawing and hissing like a couple of cats.
Why can't he ever get enough?
"It's Mary," she whispers, pouring poison in his ears. "If Mary were gone I could conceive a son. If Mary were gone I could give a true king the son he deserves."
He ought to kill her for talking that way. It would only be right. It will be right. But there's something even more right about the way she makes him feel. The way the scratching and the clawing and the hissing make him feel wild and mad with power, the way her wickedness makes him feel so alive.
So while Anne is sleeping, enjoying the sinful life that must soon come to an end, the King of England writes a poem, and leaves it on the sweaty pillow next to her head.
"You know I'm hooked for you, mama. That's why you sling your weight around. You know I'm hooked for you, mama. That's why you sling your weight around. But as long as your loving beats your arguing, little girl I'll never put you down."
"You argue when I leave for work. You argue when I get home. Everything I try to do for you, you always say that I'm wrong. I bring you home all my money, except the little I keep for expense. And when I get home to you mama you always tell me Ray, you ain't got no sense."
"But on the other hand, baby, you I can't understand. But when you put your loving arms around me, you make me forget about everything."
"I think about the lousy way you treat me. You're always raising sin. I know that you know that I know that you've got another man. Half the time when I'm at home, I have to go to café to eat. And when you argue all night long I have to go down in the den and sleep."
"But on the other hand, mama, your loving eases all my pain. And when you put your loving arms around me, you make old Ray forget about everything!"
