Janis Ian — His Hands

[Verse 1] His hands were made of lightning His fingers were the wind They reached into my heart And let me love again His touch was made for pleasure So good it seemed a sin Stroking my soul, keeping me whole 'Til I gave myself to him [Chorus] His hands—they never hit me sober His hands—they never marked my face I would rather be blind than see him treat me that way I would rather be deaf than hear that sound Like a pistol cracking as the spirit breaks And love comes tumbling down [Verse 2] He learned it from his father And from his father's wife He learned from the preacher Who told her they were married for life And if I'd had his children They might have learned from me I finally ran when I saw that his hands Would sign that legacy [Bridge] He said, "I've broken stallions I've broken mares too And given time, and the right frame of mind I swear I'll break you" [Verse 3] So come all you pretty women Who think that you're too smart And learn from one Who loved a damaged heart There are some things you can gamble There are some things you can change But you can't change a man with the law in his hand It's like trying to drown the rain [Chorus] His hands would never hit me sober His hands would never mark my face They would rather be blind than to treat me that way They would rather be deaf than hear that sound Like a pistol cracking as the spirit breaks And love comes tumbling down Tumbling down Tumbling down