Grace Notes

When I was wandering anywhere I could

Far beyond the riverbank, deeper than the woods

When my naked eye said, I'm gonna find you

The night sky was nothing but stars

When it's all I can manage, despite how I try

When somebody's looking where I like to hide

I remember the moon while I swim along the bottom

When I trust you, it isn't too hard

When I could give away everything I had

Leave a whole dream in a brown paper bag

When the time went by, it said, Man, that was easy

Like honey was laid in my hand

When I lie to myself or I'm honest at best

Or sell my whole story 'til none of it's left

When the sun goes down like promises matter

We had something I understand

When the ghost I like to deny

It's haunted me all of my life

Singing all its songs in my corners and cobwebs

When I let them follow me home

When there's so many homes that I've known

So many lives that love has given me

Grace notes with meat on the bone

When I was being it, whatever it was

So brave or broken, but only just enough

When my self-respect cackled, What were you thinking?

'Til it walked off the edge of the world

When I kiss on a stone like they all rolled away

Or call upon my demons when I don't want to play

When I think of a ghost like light from a diamond

Like freedom feeling a pearl

When the garden I've watered with tears

Is beautiful this time of year

And all the blossoms fall when their petals get heavy

When I let them follow me home

When there's so many homes that I've known

So many lives that love has given me

Grace notes with meat on the bone

When the ghost I like to deny

It's haunted me all of my life

When I would say it though no one was around

Or cry like some children at a carnival clown

Forever was a word like a name in the sidewalk

Or the wind blowing open a door

When I make what I'm missing or claim what I stole

Or live like I'm digging just for filling in a hole

When I lose so much, I just burst into laughter

Like someone who knows what it's for

When the day I pray never comes

Presses me under its tongue

When all this water flows and every wave makes an ocean

When I let them follow me home

When there's so many homes that I've known

So many lives that love has given me

Grace notes with meat on the bone