The Last Time I Saw Richard

The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in 68

And he told me, "All romantics meet the same fate

Some day, cynical and drunk and boring

Someone in some dark cafe"

"You laugh", 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 you gonna realise they're only pretty lies?

Only pretty lies, just pretty lies"

He put a quarter in the wurlitzer, and he pushed

Three buttons and the thing began to whirl

And a barman came by in 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 romanticising some pain that's in your head

You've got tombs in your eyes, but the songs

You punched are dreaming

Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet

When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?

Oh, and love can be so sweet, love so sweet

Richard got married to a figure skater

And he bought her a dish washer and a coffee 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 coming over to my table

I've got nothing to talk to anybody about

All good dreamers pass this way some day

Hiding behind bottles in dark cafes, dark cafes

Only a dark cocoon before

I get my gorgeous wings and fly away

Only a phase, these dark cafe days