Something Broke

I was out
In the yard
Taking down the bed sheets
When my neighbor yelled across:
"The president's been shot"
I remember where I was
Just exactly where I was
In the yard out back
"The president's been shot"
I was getting me a shoeshine
Folding sheets
When I heard
We were waiting for a carriage
Newsboys
Suddenly there's shouting in the street
Lizzy's sheet
"The president's been shot"
I'll remember it forever

And I thought:
Where I was
What I was doing
Something just broke...

"The president's been shot"

My God

I was up near the ridge
Plowing

We were working at the plant

I was halfway through correcting the exams
When my wife

It was Mike

She comes tearing 'cross the field
Mike the foreman
In runs Billy
I mean, he was crying
He was crying
She was crying
I'll remember it forever...

And I thought:

"The president's been shot"

You know what?
There are presidents who aren't worth a lot

I kept thinking:

There's the kind that gets elected, then forgot

Mr. Garfield
Mr. Lincoln
He's a hack
Bill McKinley
He's a giant
He's a joke
Still, something just broke

"The president is rallying"
"The president is sinking"
"The president is dead"

Something just broke

I was down at the Exchange

Something just made a little dent

I'd been shopping

I'd been sick

Something just broke

All I know, it was a Friday

Only for a moment

I remember it exactly

Something got bent

I'm taking the order

Something just left a little mark

I was getting dressed

Two potato soups

Something just went a little dark
Something just went

And I wondered

I was scared of

What would follow...

Something to be mended

Made me wonder who we are

Something we'll have to weather

It was seeing all those torches

Bringing us all together

He was me...

He was us...
If only for a moment

I'll remember it forever

Nothing has really ended

Where I was, what I was doing

Only just be suspended

Like a flash

'Cause something just stirred

And I thought
And I thought to myself (and I thought)
Something just broke
And I thought
I kept thinking

Something just spoke
Something I wish I hadn't heard
Something bewildering occurred

Fix it up fast
Please

'Til it's just smoke

'Til it's only "Something just passed"
Nothing that will last
Where I was, what i was doing

Nothing but the moment

Just an awful moment

But something just-