A Friend To You - Joe Henry

Day after day

I wonder why

This still should be

Any kind of surprise;

Nothing has changed

When I open my eyes —

I’m just a friend…

I’m just a friend to you

Tables are turned

End over end

And this is a room

Where no love has been;

And no love lives now

And, though I pretend —

I’m just a friend…

I’m just a friend to you

You turned to me

Without knowing how

I always was there

And am, even now;

Taking your arm

When you would allow

Whenever a bitter wind blew…

And blow, it still does

In rings around my bed

And plays through the trees

That twist in my head;

I live to be more

But instead —

I’m just a friend…

I’m just a friend to you

Why must I grieve

Like something was lost

Like the light had gone out

Where our streets would cross;

Though this was always

Our way when we walked

This isn’t a street that goes through…

I wouldn’t change

The words that I spoke

Though they haunt me now

Like clothes smell of smoke;

They lay on the floor

In this room where I woke

Alone, just a friend…

Just a friend to you