I wrote this one just to say goodbye to a lost love. There were some specific things I wanted to say goodbye to, so I thought I'd write a country song about it.
Goodbye Leaves
Copyright 2004 Narciso Lobo
I rearranged the bedroom
It was just getting to be a drag
The couch is in the big room
And the bed is in the back
I finally put up your poster
I knew you’d be shocked
But I put everything else you ever gave me
In a 4 x 6 inch cardboard box
Yes, I was crying
Yes, I shed tears
They fell on every note you ever wrote
To me for one week shy of a year
Goodbye angels, goodbye leaves
Goodbye Memphis and rooftop dreams
How much longer must I grieve?
Until I’m stronger than the ends of my jacket sleeves
I found that tape you made me
You know the one I’m talking about?
It’s you singing a cappella
Laughing and giggling throughout
I just let your voice destroy me
Took a breath and pressed rewind
Then I made sure that every word hurt
Because I knew that it would would be the last time
Yes, I was crying
Yes, I shed tears
One for every note you ever sung
To me that so much as blessed my ears
Goodbye angels, goodbye leaves
Goodbye Memphis and rooftop dreams
How much longer must I grieve?
Until I’m stronger than the ends of my jacket sleeves
Goodbye Privata, goodbye plans
Goodbye snowsuits and orange vans
Goodbye hiding and eyes that know it
Goodbye Pilsen and 3-year-old poets
Goodbye Landslide and noisy beds
Goodbye anger and heavy heads
Goodbye rooftops and IHOPS and beautiful dreads
Goodbye angels, goodbye leaves
Goodbye Memphis and rooftop dreams
How much longer must I grieve?
Until I’m stronger than the ends of my jacket sleeves
Goodbye Leaves
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3 comments:
can you explicate some of the references? as long as it's not too personal...
It's all 100% autobiographical.
A lot of it is self-explanatory, but here are some more tidbits of info, if you're really interested.
The "angel" I'm saying goodbye to is a statue located at Augusta and Wood (or thereabouts), in the corner of a building under the words, "Angels Barn." It used to have a broken arm in a sling. It's been fixed since.
The "leaves" references: Our first conversations were about leaves and how beautiful they are when they're dying. She could never like autumn as a kid because it meant the leaves were all dying. Her first present to me was a note with an early autumn leaf in it. I also took to calling her "Leaf" in my notes to her. Her name is "Leah," so it kinda fit.
Memphis: Whenever I drove her home, we'd pass the exit for 55 on the way. Everytime we'd pass I'd suggest leaving everything behind and running away to Memphis. She'd agree. We never went. She'd also call me "Elvis" in her notes to me. Elvis, Graceland, Memphis.
Rooftop dreams: The first time I asked her out was on a roof top. We liked roof tops.
Jacket sleeves: You've seen them. They're in terrible shape.
Privata: The site of our first date. A restaurant.
Snowsuits: A cute collar-to-toe snowsuit I used to tease her about but secretly loved.
Orange vans: I used to own a gigantic orange van. It was my only means of transport when we began dating.
"Goodbye hiding and eyes that know it" - She always knew when I was hiding something. I'd know she knew by the look in her eyes.
Pilsen: Where she lived.
3-year-old poets: Her son Umali. His mouth would begin moving and poems would stream out.
Landslide: A special song for us. She'd sing it at the open mic whenever she came. I'd play the guitar for her.
IHOPS: A favorite late night destination of ours.
Beautiful dreads: She has dreadlocks.
Maybe that was more than you bargained for, but there you go, babe.
Thanks.
It was clear before, but now it's sparkling.
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