Black-Eyed Susan

She walks into work on Monday

Too much make-up on her face

As if there's something more than time and lines

She's trying to erase

Secret shadows

Paint and powder cannot hide

And for every one she covers up

A new one grows inside

She's the last to leave the office

She's afraid not to go home

She's afraid to be with people

She's afraid to be alone

And when courage feels like cowardice

It all gets too confusing

It's a twisted garden where you grow

Black-eyed Susan

And your mama says:

Run for your life

From a path not freely chosen

You can't last

It's a crazy maze of tangled weeds

And your footsteps are all frozen

In the past

It's a game of chance, girl

You can't win for losing

Black-eyed Susan, black-eyed Susan

There's a peaceful garden somewhere

The wind is soft and warm

And the sun and rain and brown earth

Keep the flowers safe from harm

And nobody laughs to see your pain

It ain't nothing that's amusing

And your mama says:

Run for your life - you can change a path not chosen

You are no man's wife

Save your heart before it's frozen

And your petals fade and fall

From all the bruising

Black-eyed Susan, black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan, black-eyed Susan