you've been mine such a long, long time
been my bedrock, my buoy, my muse
I still remember the first time I saw you
I was absolutely over the moon
you had a toothache, a fever, suitors all eager to wrap their proud arms around you
we talked Beatles, The Meters, Steinbeck & Jesus
on and on, till half past two
honey, I knew from the start that arrow in my heart had bled me through & through
I trained my eyes on a canvas so wide
took me days to walk end to end
and the brushstrokes were grand
they painted foreign lands
in bold and brilliant hues
I could tell right away
I'd been writ into a play
in a language I'd never known
but it came naturally
it was a hit, I could see by the glint in your innocent eyes
I tightened my belt, stepped into the night and fell over the moon for you
you've been honest & faithful, patient & true
me, I've been surly and cruel
I'm a drifter, a shapeshifter, only occasionally a mister
mostly just a boy without a clue
I'm a traveling salesman hocking my wares wherever the wind tells me to
but it blisters & it whispers, changes course without warning... honey, what am I to do? I ain't no pugilist pulling my punches
honey, I don't aim to fight with you
remember that time you broke down way down south? me, I was wearing out at home
ain't no metaphors here, I'm talking plain, I'm talking bluntly
talking about the ache in both of our bones
brittle and sharp, stubborn and stark
honey, I'm going gray
sitting at here at your piano
fumbling over these keys
waiting for you to stumble through that door
I'll pick you up
you'll worry for my back
honey, I'm still absolutely over the moon for you