"For the Sake of the Song," Townes Van Zandt, from Live at the Old Quarter CD
Why does she sing sad songs for me, I'm not the one
to tenderly bring her soft sympathy I've just begun
to see my way clear and it's plain, if I stop I will fall
I can lay down a tear for her pain, just a tear and that's all.
What does she want me to do?
she says that she knows that moments are rare
I suppose that it's true
and on she goes to say I don't care, when I do.
chorus:
Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song
and who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong.
She'd like to think that I'm cruel,
but she knows that's a lie for I would be
no more than a tool
if I allowed her to cry all over me.
Oh my sorrow is real even though I can't change my plan
If she could see how I feel then I know that she'd understand
Oh does she actually think I'm to blame?
Does she really believe that some word of mine can relieve all her pain?
Can't she see that she grieves because she's been blindly deceived
by her shame?
chorus
Nothin's what it seems, maybe she'll start someday to realize
If she abandons her dreams, all the words she can say are only lies
when will she see that to gain is only to lose?
All that she offers me areher chains, I got to refuse.
Oh but it's only to herself that she's lied
she likes to pretend it's something that she must defend, with her pride
and I don't intend to stand her and be the friend from whom she must hide.
chorus 1 1/2 times and out