Up to Me

Everything went from bad to worse
Money never changed a thing
Death kept followin', trackin' us down
At least I heard your bluebird sing
Now somebody's got to show their hand
Time is but an enemy
I know you're long gone
I guess it must be up to me

If I'd thought about it, I never would've done it
I guess I would've let it slide
If I'd have paid attention to what others were thinkin'
The heart inside of me would've died
I was just too stubborn to ever be governed
By enforced insanity
Well, someone had to reach for the rising star
I guess it was up to me

Well, the Union Central is pullin' out
The orchids are in bloom
I've only got me one good shirt left
And it smells like stale perfume
In fourteen months, I've only smiled once
I didn't do it consciously
Somebody's got to find your trail
And I guess it must be up to me

It was like a revelation
When you betrayed me with your touch
I had just about convinced myself
That nothin' had changed that much
The old Rounder in the iron mask
He slipped me the master key
Well, somebody had to unlock your heart
He said it was up to me

Well, I watched you slowly disappear
Down into the officers' club
I would've followed you in the door
But I didn't have a ticket stub
So I waited all night long for the break of day
Hoping one of us could get free
When the dawn came over the river bridge
I knew it was up to me

Yeah, the only decent thing I did
Was when I worked as a postal clerk
I used to haul your pictures down off the wall
Near the cage where I used to work
I was a fool not to try
To protect your identity
You looked a little burned out, my friend
I thought it might be up to me

Well, I met somebody face to face
I had to remove my hat
She's everything I need and love
But I can't be swayed by that
It frightens me, the awful truth
Of how sweet life can be
But she ain't about to make a move
I guess it must be up to me

We heard the Sermon on the Mount
And I knew it was too complex
It didn't amount to anything more
Than what a piece of broken glass reflects
When you bite off more than you can chew
You pay the penalty
Somebody's got to tell the tale
I guess it must be up to me

Well, Dupree came in pimpin' tonight
To the Thunderbird Cafe
Crystal wanted to talk to him
I had to look the other way
Now, I just can't rest without you, love
I need your company
But you ain't gonna cross the line
I guess it must be up to me

There's a note left in the bottle
You can give it to Estelle
She's the one you've been wond'rin' about
But there's really nothin' much to tell
We both heard voices for a while
Now the rest is history
Somebody's got to cry some tears
I guess it must be up to me

So go on, boys, and play your hand
Life is but a pantomime
The ringleaders from the county seat
Say you don't have all that much time
And the girl with me behind the shades
She ain't my property
Well, one of us has got to hit the road
I guess it must be up to me

And if we never meet again
Then, baby, remember me
How my lone guitar played sweet for you
That old-time melody
And the Rickenbacker around my neck
It grooves for you for free
No one else could play that tune
You know it was up to me