Watercolors

Janis Ian

I remember photographs
Watercolors of the past
He turned and said - You ask much of me
Then, when we'd made our peace,
we lay between the sheets
He turned and said - I set you free

Go on, be a hero, be a photograph
Make your own myths
Christ, I hope they last
longer than mine
Wider than the sky we measure time by
Go on, be a hero, I set you free
Your stagehand lovers have conquered me
They'll send you carnations,
while smiling faces look on and applaud
Go on, go on, go 'way from me

I said - Do you wish me dead?
Lip service to books you've read
Articles on how to bed a bird in flight
You called it love - I called it greed
You say - You take what you want
I say - You get what you need

Go on, be a hero, be a man
Make your own destiny if you can
Go find a fence, locate a shell
and hide yourself
Go on, go to hell, go away from me
I need no charity

He said - Come unto me
I am beauty
I am the light
Come unto me
Hold the darkness and stay the night
for I am wonder, I am the heart's delight
Tomorrow we'll fight

Come on come on, come near to me
Come be my fantasy
We'll talk it over again sometime
I'll send you some flowers
to change your mind,
but for tonight, turn out the light
Hold me -
Come on, come on and set me free
Lend me your charity

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