Necklace

better days

NECKLACE

I met her when her lovely eyes were clouding darker blue
I'd been lifted by her courage all my life
That day she looked as wise as where hard wisdom takes you to
The road alone had known her as a wife
She said I'm turning sixty soon, and laughed just like a girl
If I were not a stranger I'd have hugged her then and there
Some live their lives in friction and never find a pearl
Conviction is the necklace that they wear
Conviction is the necklace that they wear

I drove her from the airport to the old Barclay Hotel
A truck had lost its cargo and the traffic was a crawl
So I sang a song she'd written, one that served me well
When I was young and half out of control
I told her how that song had been a doctor and a nurse
When my soul was sick, in need of poetry
She said when I recorded that I left out a verse
Then she sang the missing words for me
Then she sang the missing words for me

The police were on the highway waving people by
A flatbed truck was halted in the rain
She said, I wrote that in the Chelsea back in '65
And asked if me if I'd sing the words again
God, I haven't sung that now for almost thirty years
I asked her why, she said it made her sad
We sang the words together then, a necklace made of tears
We never do forget the loves we've had
We never do forget the loves we've had

I dropped her at the Barclay, took her things upstairs
These old hotels, they never change you know
The concert hall half-empty, songs can be like prayers
For those who come and those who do not show
The dressing room was crowded after so I didn't stay
We shared a hug and said our soft good-byes
Some people never show and others never go away
Some feelings always come as a surprise
Some feelings always come as a surprise

I met her when her lovely eyes were clouding darker blue
I'd been lifted by her courage all my life
That night she looked as tired as where hard livin' takes you to
And time alone had known her as a wife
She was turning sixty soon, she laughed just like a girl
The silver had replaced her long dark hair
Some live their lives in friction and never find a pearl
Conviction is the necklace that they wear
Conviction is the necklace that they wear

DL