The Offer - Augie March

This is a song, not like the other ones

Secret and selfish and somewhat hollow

In the middle of this song there seemed to grown another

Of indeterminate length and origin

To populate a people’s song, first you must do something wrong

If you’ve never been infirm you can never be strong

Prune your rose bushes, Glenn

Or you’ll never see your home again

Country and city, kingdom of the well, of the unwell

You dwell in them both like a ghost —

When old King George said to my long dead kin

«Ten summers and winters in Arthur will do you in»

He cut out his heart and he buried the sin there in England

Prune your rose bushes Glenn

Oh they’ll grow up again

There may still be a next year, who knows?

If you’re lonely take a drink

There are better things to think

Think on ancient cities, sunsets and girls in Spring

You needed a song, I needed one too

So keep listening

For my offer to you

Take it with good grace and humour too

First came the golden age

When there was no need of proof

When lions ate flowers

And your house didn’t need a roof

Then came the silver days

When a boy saw himself for the first time

In the reflection of a blade

Then he saw the way

To populate a people’s song

First he must do something wrong

If you’ve never heard the music you never will

Prune your rose bushes Glenn

So they’ll soon grow up again

There may still be a next year, who knows?

If you’re lonely, take a drink

There are better things to think

Think on ancient cities, sunsets and girls in Spring

Because all the tears that you mend

They will open up again

And weren’t you suppose to call your friends this evening?

It rained all night the day I left

The weather it was fine

It rained all night the day I left