Promised

The ghostly possibilities you could conjure with your hands
The rest of us could tell you were inspired
Though sometimes it seemed a little planned
I loved to watch you sleeping in the morning light
Before you set your face
Before the others - even me - before we crowded in
And you were free a little from time and space

But you promised me, you promised me
That you wouldn't run and hide
And in the evenings sometimes
When I'm sad and half asleep
I wonder if you should have tried

Gonna go and have a sit-down
With the sit-down types
When I crawl out of my bed
When I'm done lying to all the liars
Gonna go and lie back down
Put the cardboard crown back on my head
If I close my eyes while walking
Will you come and take my hand?
I remember how it feels
I could stand so very still
Every crowded corner
Crossing every avenue
There's a chance, there's a chance, there's a chance

But you promised me, you promised me
That you wouldn't run and hide
And in the evenings sometimes
When I'm sad and half asleep
I wonder if you should have tried

But you promised me, you promised me
That you wouldn't run and hide
But in the mornings
When I'm cold and wish I was asleep
I wonder if you weren't right

I know that for you the world was painful like a fire
I'm waiting - not with patience, nor desire
But soft despair - pale and cold
And knowing that I knew you were a liar

But you promised me, you promised me
That you wouldn't run and hide
And in the evenings sometimes
When I'm sad and half asleep
I wonder if you should have tried

But you promised me, you promised me
That you wouldn't run and hide
But in the mornings
When I'm cold and wish I was asleep
I wonder if you weren't right

Whatever words, whatever words I thought you promised me
Let me cast them from my mind
I can stand before the stillness of reality
Just gotta give it time
Gotta give it time
Gotta give it time