Red Balloon

And when the dream leaves, like the red balloon drifting away
Each second it only gets further, and bluer the day
And never mind getting it back, how could you have let go so soon
And then you remember, it wasn't red, or a balloon

But the homeless man wakes to an ungentle nudge from the cop
He doesn't know what he keeps doing wrong, but he can't seem to stop
And the cop's telling him to go, but he won't tell him where
It's strange, you remember the first time you heard your mother swear

You pay money you've never touched to people that you've never seen
for some promise you don't understand, but could ruin everything
And you're sure what you owe seems like more than these things could've cost
And it's strange, you remember the first fistfight you ever lost

On TV there's a man who they say may be next to lead this country
They pick him to pieces, but you still hope it adds up to something
It's absurd, you admit, but you were stirred by the speeches he gave
It's strange when it occurs to you to visit your father's grave

You climb into the shower and you can't seem to stay long enough
Some things rinse right away, others you'll never be rid of
Now you're crouched to the floor, filthy as any language you've heard
Strange enough, you remember your first favorite four-letter word

Oh, Love, the places and lengths that you'll go just to meet her
In plain shape and shame to some bar, in disguise to some theater
Oh, it's corny, it's tacky, but you're still glad that she made you come
And then strange, you remember the first time you made yourself come

So then you two retreat, where the lights and the judgment are softer
And you grope for the switch in the dark, unmusical, awkward
But then you find the tune, and she starts to hum like a machine
Strange, you remember the one you crashed when you were sixteen

Now she's sleeping soft, and you cradle her like your balloon
And then, strange as a dream, it's floating right there in the room with you
And you can't recognize it, or fathom what lightness it holds inside
And you can't hold your ow, can you remember the last time you cried