The Last Time I Saw Richard

Last time I saw Richard

Was Detroit in 68 and he told me

"All romantics meet the same fate someday:

Cynical and bitter and boring someone

In some dark cafe"

You laughed, he said: "You think you're immune?

Go look at your eyes, they're full of moon!

You like roses and kisses

And pretty men to tell you all those pretty lies"

Pretty lies

"When are you gonna realize they're only pretty lies?"

Only pretty lies, pretty lies

He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer

And then he pushed three buttons and the thing began to whirl

And a waitress came by a fishnet stockings and a bow tie

And she said: "drink up now, it's getting on time to close"

"Richard, you haven't really changed", I said

"It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head

You've got tombs in your in your eyes

But the songs you punched are dreaming"

Listen, they talk of love so sweet

When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?

Oh and love can be so sweet

Love's so sweet

Richard got married to a figure skater

And he bought her a dish washer and a coffe percolator

And he drinks at home now, most nights with the TV on

And all the house lights left up bright

I'm gonna blow this damn candle out

I don't want nobody comin' over to my table,

I've got nothing to talk to anybody about

All good dreamer pass this away someday

Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes

Dark cafes

Only this darkness

Before I get my gorgeous wings

And fly away

Only a phase, these dark cafe days