Cursed

**"Cursed"** is a song by Buck Vernon about love as a curse, which drives the singer to do dark and destructive things because of an unnamed woman who "bends the wills of men for fun."

He perceives his infatuation with the woman to be a real spell she has placed on him, and blames his actions on it, saying that he is "just a pawn in her game" and that he has "done things that have no name" and she will make him do worse if he is not arrested first. He expresses the desire to walk out of the deal or break the spell, but he also wants to "learn her wits and how she plays her tricks" and exclaims "who knew love was gonna be like this?" suggesting that he recognizes the darkness of her "curse" but is nevertheless passionate about her.

## Background and influences

Given the events of *Vide Noir*, the song is likely about Lee Green. Vernon commits various crimes in an effort to find her and bring her back to Detroit. It seems possible he wrote the song later, blaming his infatuation with her for the things he did.

## Annotated lyrics

The lyrics for *Strange Trails* were never officially released, these lyrics are a transcript:

What I remember the most is hollering her name

And the sirens wail as we ran like hell down a strange trail

Oh, I wanna know what I did, I wanna know her game

I wanna learn her wits and how she plays her tricks, oh, I gotta know

Lots of booze and her kiss

These are drugs that do not mix

I was under her spell

And today I feel like hell

She got me going, I guess

Who knew love would be like this?

Don't know what I'm gonna do

But I guess I gotta see it through

Cause I don't know how to walk out of this deal

The spell she cast on me is real

I don't know how to right the wrongs I've done

She bends the wills of men for fun

I don't know how to take my own life back

Everything she touches turns to black

I don't know how to fight what I can't see

That girl has laid a curse on me

I gotta find me a cure

I gotta clear my name

There's gotta be some way

I hope it's not too late

To break the spell

Yeah

I want to get her alone

I want to ask her why

And look into those eyes

And see the endless night

Staring back

What kind of magic is this?

I was doomed by our first kiss

Just a pawn in her game

I've done things that have no name

And she'll make me do worse

If the law doesn't get me first

She has cloaked me in black

And there ain't no turning back

There are runes on my skin

They appear when she walks in

I am bound by her spell

I am chained to do her will

I'm a goner, I guess

Who knew love was gonna be like this?

She has cloaked me in black

And there ain't no turning back

Cause I don't know how to walk out of this deal

The spell she cast on me is real

I don't know how to right the wrongs I've done

She bends the wills of men for fun

I don't know how to take my own life back

Everything she touches turns to black

I don't know how to fight what I can't see

That girl has laid a curse on me

## Potential lyrical references

1. ↑ "merald Star" - "You light up the night by blinkin' your eyes"

## Sources

1. ↑ Strange Trails album label

"Love Like Ghosts" (Francine Lu)
"Until the Night Turns" (The Phantom Riders)
"Dead Man's Hand" (Buck Vernon)
"Hurricane (Johnnie's Theme)" (The Phantom Riders)

"La Belle Fleur Sauvage" (Remy Fusil)
"**Fool for Love**" (Buck Vernon)
"**The World Ender**" (The Phantom Riders)
"Meet Me in the Woods" (Francine Lu and Claude Fox)
"The Yawning Grave"

"Frozen Pines" (H.W. Justine)
"**Cursed**" (Buck Vernon)
"Way Out There"
"Louisa" (Buck Vernon)
"**The Night We Met**" (Francine Lu)