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