Mary Chapin Carpenter

[fox69]

"What Would You Say To Me"

"What Would You Say To Me"



What would you say to me?
What would you say to me?
What would you say to me,
If we met one day?

On the street of broken dreams.
On the street of broken dreams.
On the street of broken dreams,
Not so far away

Would you offer me a smile?
Would you offer me a smile?
Would you stop and talk a while,
Or would you walk away?

Why would you wanna see?
Why would you wanna see,
Another tear from me?
It's just a game you play.

You're not the only one.
You're not the only one,
When all was said an' done,
Who had to hurt this way.

Well, take a walk around the town.
Take a walk around this town.
Collar up an' head down,
Agaianst the cold and grey.

We're only strangers here. (Strangers here.)
We're just like strangers here. (Strangers here.)
Hearts full of achin' fear,
Whisper: "Come what may."

Time only goes one way.
Time only goes one way.
Time only knows one way,
And it ain't come back.

So when you remember me,
When you remember me,
Some might, tenderly,
Just remember that.

What would you say to me?
What would you say to me?
What would you say to me,
If we met one day?

 

[fox69]

"What You Didn't Say"

"What You Didn't Say"



I can read your eyes just like a book
You tell me different, but I know that look
And I don't have to guess what's between the lines

So what in the world am I still doing here
You push me away when I get too near
Saying love's too simple to analyze

So why do I feel confused
Why do I feel so used
Like a worn-out thought you threw away
It wasn't what you said, it's what you didn't say

Where are the windows, where are the doors?
I haven't the key to your heart anymore
I haven't a clue to what's gone wrong

'Cause you look at me sometimes as if I weren't there
You say you're listening, but you never hear
The strains of silence have grown so strong

I never wanted to doubt you
But I'd be better off without you
I'm no good at looking the other way
It wasn't what you said, it's what you didn't say

So look at me one last time
With eyes that still know how to shine
Hold me like you won't let go
But you let go anyway

No one belongs where they're not wanted
You're just a ghost, and my heart is haunted
When I said goodbye, you didn't even beg me to stay
It wasn't what you said, it's what you didn't say
No baby, it wasn't what you said, it's what you didn't say

 

[fox69]

"What You Look For"

"What You Look For"



What you look for on a dirty street
Is a patch of green beneath your feet
A stubborn weed or a traveling rose
Either one lives to grow

What you look for in a stranger's eyes
Is if he sees through your disguise
How we long to be revealed
To be known we might be healed

Send it out into the Universe
A humble plea, a wish, a broken verse
Be a seed that lands inside the cracks
Seek the sun and it shines back

What you looked for when you were a girl
Was a window out into the world
From a speeding car or a passing train
You were hypnotized just the same

And what you look for now that you are grown
Is proof of how time has flown
An empty house, a strand of grey
And an endless longing for yesterday

Send it out into the Great Elsewhere
A kind of hope, a chant, a simple prayer
Be the child whose dreams won't ever fade
Shout and storm the barricades

What you look for in your darkest hour
Is a dirty street with just a flower...

Send it out not knowing where it went
Into the blue, into the firmament
Be the one who wonders at it all

Send it out into the Universe
A humble plea, a wish, a broken verse
Be a seed that lands inside the cracks
Seek the sun and it shines back
It shines back

 

[fox69]

"When She's Gone"

"When She's Gone"



She threw her purse upon the bed
She looked around and shook her head
There's really nothing left, she said
There's nothing I ain't done
She wore your favorite dress tonight
She hoped her hair would catch the light
And you just sat there gettin' tight
On double shots of rum

You don't care what people say
They're gonna say it anyway
You don't hear what you can't use
It's always been the same old news
You don't beg and you don't plead
Or miss a thing that you don't need
She knew by the way you kissed her
When she's gone, you won't miss her

Morning comes on an old cat's paws
And when the sun hits the walls
The light's as bright as it ever was
After or before
And you wince as waking pounds your head
And you drag your arm across the bed
And the tangled sheets and the twisted spread
Fall onto the floor

And the kitchen table finds you silent
If you had a thought, now you can't find it
You take a long drag on your smoke
And taste your coffee growing cold
She didn't beg and you didn't plead
She knew exactly how to leave
The way she knew when you kissed her
When she's gone, you won't miss her

She didn't beg and you didn't plead
She knew exactly when to leave
The way she knew as you kissed her
When she's gone, you won't miss her

 

[fox69]

"Whenever You're Ready"

"Whenever You're Ready"



Whenever you're ready
I've got the car and the engine running
It's such a bore when you know what's coming all the time
Whenever you're ready
To slam the door 'til the hinges fly
Trace an arc cross the big blue sky
It's always gonna be hard
To take things a little to far

Na na na na, c'mon baby
Na na na na, yeah it's crazy
Na na na na, I'll be waiting whenever you're ready
Whenever you're ready

Whenever you're ready
To light a match and to burn some bridges
Try to dance on a narrow ledge that's way too high
Whenever you're ready
To give it up or to just give in
The more you lose hell the more you win
In spite of all of your plans
It's always been out of your hands

Na na na na, c'mon baby
Na na na na, yeah it's crazy
Na na na na, I'll be waiting whenever you're ready
Whenever you're ready

It's always gonna be hard to take things a little too far

Na na na na, c'mon baby
Na na na na, yeah it's crazy
Na na na na, I'll be waiting whenever you're ready
Whenever you're ready

 

[fox69]

"Where Time Stands Still"

"Where Time Stands Still"



Baby where's that place where time stands still
I remember like a lover can
But I forget it like a leaver will
It's no place you can get to by yourself
You've got to love someone and they love you
Time will stop for nothing else
And memory plays tricks on us, the more we cling,
The less we trust
And the less we trust the more we hurt
And as time goes on it just gets worse
So baby where's that place where time stood still
It is under glass inside a frame
Was it over when you had your fill

And here we are with nothing but
But this emptiness inside of us
Your smile a fitting, final gesture
Wish I could have loved you better

Baby where's that place where time stands still
I remember like a lover can
But I forget it like a leaver will
It's the first time that you held my had
It's the smell and the taste and the fear and the thrill
It's everything I understand
And all the things I never will

 

[fox69]

"Wherever You Are"

"Wherever You Are"



I'm looking for a strong and steady heart
For a love that won't fall apart
At the first sign of trouble, near or far
I'm looking through eyes that have shed some tears
And I'm looking for that one who's gonna face my fears
Without thinking he must erase each scar

I'm gonna find you baby, wherever you are
Wherever you are love won't leave you stranded
Wherever you are love won't let you hide
Wherever you are, one of these days
We'll be walking side by side
All it takes is some time and destiny
A little courage for those days when all we see
Is a cold lonely rain coming down hard

I'm gonna find you baby, wherever you are
Wherever you are love won't leave you stranded
Wherever you are love won't let you hide
Wherever you are, one of these days
We'll be walking side by side
I'm looking for a love that's meant for me
I can't be bothered with some wannabe
Just like the light from heaven's stars
I'm gonna find you
I'm gonna find you
I'm gonna find you
I'm gonna find you baby, wherever you are

 

[fox69]

"Why Shouldn't We"

"Why Shouldn't We"



We believe in things that we cannot see
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Hands that heal can set a chained man free
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in peace within every heart
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Burning brightly, brightly in the dark
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

So come on darling feel your spirits rise
Come on children open up your eyes
God is all around
Buddha's at the gate
Allah hears your prayers
It's not too late

And we believe in things that will give us hope
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Let your voice be heard, celebrate your vote
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in things that make us all the same
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Love belongs to all in deed and name
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

And we believe in things that can't be done
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Lift up your heart, put down your gun
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in things
We're told that we cannot change
Why shouldn't we
We had heroes once, and we will again
Why shouldn't we

So come on darling
Come on children
God is all around, Buddha's at the gate
Allah hears our prayers
It's not too late

Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we

 

[fox69]

"Why Walk When You Can Fly"

"Why Walk When You Can Fly"



In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, baby
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world there's a whole lot of trouble
But a whole lot of ground to gain
Why take when you could be giving, why watch as the world goes by
It's a hard enough life to be living, why walk when you can fly

In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
In this world there's a whole lot of shame
In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
And a whole lotta ground to gain
When you spend your whole life wishing, wanting and wondering why
It's a long enough life to be living, why walk when you can fly

In this world there's a whole lot of cold
In this world there's a whole lot of blame
In this world you've a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings
There's a star on the far horizon, rising bright in an azure sky
For the rest of the time that you're given, why walk when you can fly

 

[fox69]

"You Win Again"

"You Win Again"



I'm standing here freezing at a phone booth baby
In the middle of God knows where
I got one quarter left your machine packs up
But baby I know you're there

And I just start crying 'cause it makes no sense
To waste these words and twenty'five cents
On a losing game
Baby you win again

I've been turning it over and over again
Like a stone I'm waiting to wish on
I've been holding my breath just wondering when
You'll make some sort of decision
To let me in or let me go
I'll always lose if I never know
Where I fit in
Baby you win again

I can't be right if I'm always wrong
I can't stand up if I'm always kneeling
At your altar or at your throne
You could show just a little feeling
For who I am
Baby you win again

Last night I dreamed we were standing here
On the corner of love and heartache
You jumped into your car you found first gear
And baby I felt the earth shake
And I woke up trembling with my heart in my throat
'Cause there's never a look a word or a note
At the bitter end
Baby you win again

I can't be right if I'm always wrong
I can't stand up if I'm always kneeling
At your altar or at your throne
You could show just a little feeling
For who I am
Baby you win again
Baby you win again
Baby you win again