The Operation - Thinking Fellers Union Local 282

I was having an operation done, no I didn’t know what for

I just ended up being there, hadn’t been paying attention

I was very afraid — we were downtown outside

It seemed hardly the place for an operation

I wish there was someone there, someone I knew

And you know the kind of pain that comes from the fear of change

From knowing you’ve lost some blood or seen dear hearts dangling

Well it was certainly there as things were studied and removed

Then that went too, mysterious and glistening

There was a woman there, she stepped from my side

To present to me all the dormant mouths

These things remain unassigned, remain unassigned

Faithful that I was a tomb, they stepped in my room and looted my room

They showed me things I couldn’t recognize

And then they took them away, saying «You don’t deserve them»

As I watched my hands move now free from me

They had more subtle ways and shades of emotion

As I looked at them, mysterious and glistening

They seemed to say, «How could you have known — you may never know»

These things remain unassigned, remain unassigned

Faithful that I was a tomb, they stepped in my room and looted my room

Graceful became my hands they fluttered and danced away

Graceful became my heart as it pumped apart from me

Graceful became my tongue rhyme and meter running away

When I get there they’ll meet me there