Bartered Time

It's too late to be singing a lullaby
I'd wake the whole house and it's too early to rise
And it's too late to call you and besides
Last time we spoke you sounded so sad

And the wind whispers when she wanders through my doorway saying yes
You too child are human through and through
And people are just people you once said to me
Each us of us just trying, trying to make do

There's a beautiful woman painting a picture of a wilting rose
The flower struggles to hold her pose
And everyone around her is whispering and moving slow
Because they know the work is fragile and on bartered time

The Christian hymns of my childhood sing a little softer everyday
And they still bring me comfort but they don't bring me home
No no no, home is somewhere far away

And people are just people you once said to me
Oh we don't deserve each other but we don't deserve to be along
People are just people you once said to me
Each of us just trying, trying to get home

And I don't like the idea of you living out there in LA
In a little room by yourself
And I'd go to you if I could I dream on it sometimes
Oh What can I say I can't help myself

And people are just people you once said to me
Each of us just a little lost
People are just people you once said to me
We gotta decide when the love's not worth the cost

And every song I sing is a cup I get to fill
I just bring it to my lips and let it spill spill spill
Cause music is communion it's bread and life and blood
I just don't know if I've been ready, ready for the flood...

And there's a beautiful woman painting a picture of a wilting rose
The flower struggles to hold her pose
And everyone around her is whispering and moving slow
Because they know the work is fragile and on bartered time