Ain't Life A Brook - Bill Morrissey, Greg Brown

I watch you reading a book

I get to thinking our

Love’s a polished stone

You give me a long drawn look

I know pretty soon

You’re gonna leave our home

And of course I mind

Especially when I’m

Thinking from my heart

But life don’t clickety-clack

Down a straight-line track

It comes together and it comes apart

You say you hope I’m not the kind

To make you feel obliged

To go ticking through your time

With a pained look in your eyes

You give me the furniture

Well divide the photographs

Go out to dinner one more time

Have ourselves a bottle of wine

And a couple of laughs

When first you left I stayed so sad

I wouldn’t sleep

I know love’s a gift

I thought yours was mine

And something

That I could keep

Now I realize

Time is not the only compromise

A bird in the hand

Could be an all-night stand

Between a blazing fire

And a pocket of skies

So I hope I’m not the kind

To make you feel obliged

To go ticking through your time

With a pained look in your eyes

I covered the furniture

I framed the photographs

Went out to dinner one more time

Had myself a bottle of wine

And a couple of laughs

Just the other day

I got your letter in the mail

I’m happy for you

It’s been so long

You’ve been wanting

A cabin and a backwoods trail

And I think that’s great

Me I seem to find myself in school

It’s all okay

I just want to say

I’m so relieved

We didn’t do it cruel

But ain’t life a brook

Just when I get to

Feeling like a polished stone

I get me a long drawn look

It’s kind of a drag

To find yourself alone

And sometimes I mind

Especially when I’m

Waiting on your heart

But life don’t clickety-clack

Down a straight-line track

It comes together

And it comes apart

'Cause I know you’re not the kind

To make me feel obliged

To go ticking through my time

With a pained look in my eyes

I sold the furniture

I put away the photographs

Went out to dinner one last time

Had myseff a bottle of wine

And a couple of laughs

For wasn’t it fine