Tender Is the Night

Rosemary shed tears again when she heard of the mishap
Altogether it had been a watery day
But she felt that she had learned something
Though exactly what it was, she did not know
Later she remembered all the hours
Of the afternoon as happy –
One of those uneventful times that seem
At the moment, only a link between past and future pleasure
But turn out to have been the pleasure itself

We really had a good thing going
Down by the station
Near the midpoint of the river
In the field of jubilation
Flying free in the sun
Sharing crates of rum
Working hard every other day
Trying to make it all flow in some way
Yeah, what joy!
What fun!
Want some?
Have one

And though there wasn't a telephone or a light
Well, tender was the night, ample was my pay
And always watching with a face of no delight were
Seventeen rabbits and a corporate Mr. White
Across the upshine of the indicator lights
The shadow a man who lived right outside
And though there wasn't a telephone or a light
Well tender was the night, violent was the wind

Ample was my pay
Oh, some nights I toss and I turn for those days
It was taken away, how I dream of those days
How it was stolen right away
A man's gloves were frayed
Fog rolled in from yesterday
Fat man on news roared away
Said the roads were tougher tonight to navigate

Roads washing away
Power lines in a state
Crops drowned in the rain
Yeah, those'll wither away
Winds howling away
Like a Satanic choir
Jupiter surrounds us
With cold wildfire

However an old disheveled band of four
Arrived in a rut, a splash in the mud
A mess it was and thanks to the rain
And in those days the cats would say
That the rain could set skin on fire
Right, yeah the hands
Oh the ways they've worn
Lord, I can still feel it now
I gave my blood and sweat to the thrill
And good lord!
It never gave nothing to me

Final act and my palms
They are ancient now
And amply withered
Alas such is hope it seems!
The station clock struck ten
And it was right around then
That i must've wandered off into a dream

A summer's sky once winter and white
The cold wind traded frost for heat
And the melted plastic hissed
As souls danced in the mist
And the oil and the blood
Dripped through the trees
Some nights I toss and I turn
And I dream of those days
Oh, I toss and I turn, lord
How could they take it away?
Away

It has been a long lesson, but I have learned
Either you think – or else others
Will have to think for you
And they'll take power from you
(Even though there wasn't a telephone or a light)
Pervert and discipline your natural tastes
(Well, tender was the night that day)
Civilize and sterilize you