Fourteen todayand you went dancing.

Music mixed with laughterand boys can be so immature.

They made you drink a bit too much

Everything's a blur to feel and touch.

Did he really like you? wellhow can you be sure enough? 



Twenty-three todayand all your friends are getting married.

You say they're so scared of being alone

So self-righteously you march through teachers' college.

Still so much in life you gotta get to know

Seems like everybody's so content to move so slow.



And when you think you've got your life so well-controlledit slips away.

And the yearslike raindrops falling from your lifeare washed away

Washed away.

And you're so brilliantyou're so giftedso sensitiveso strong

As you hide behind your barricade of words

But no one got close enough to you to have ever heard.



I met you at a party.

You were drunk and full of world adviceand I was getting nervous.

And you said you had a child who was a genius

And you smiled as the living room transformed into your circus.



Someone whispered you were 39 today

A face so youngeyes so old. you collapsed into the corner

Like somebody up on verbsyou near seduced me with your verbs as I reached

Out for you

You said over and over

"ohwhen you think you've got your life so well-controlledit slips away.

And the yearslike raindrops falling from your lifeare washed away

Washed away."

And you're so brilliantyou're so giftedso tragic and so wrong

As you hide behind your barricade of words

But you knowno one got close enough to you to have ever heard.



Children come home from schoolshout and laugh with all their life.

Shut them out fast before you think of the pastturn out all of your lights.

Go to bedgo to sleepdon't thinkdon't feel as the nighttime owns a

Prayer.

But maybe somewhere deep inside there's some meaning aching to be shared.



Fourteen todayand you were dancing