"Althea"

 

I told Althea I was feeling lost

Lacking in some direction

Althea told me upon scrutiny

My back might need protection

 

I told Althea that treachery

Was tearing me limb from limb

Althea told me, "Now cool down, boy.

Settle back. Easy, Jim."

 

You may be Saturday's child all-grown

Moving with a tinge of grace

You may be a clown in the burying ground

Or just another pretty face

 

You may be the fate of Ophelia

Sleeping and perchance to dream -

Honest to the point of recklessness

Self centered to the extreme

 

Ain't nobody messin' with you but you

Your friends are getting most concerned

Loose with the truth

Baby, it's your fire

But, baby… don't get burned

 

When the smoke has cleared, she said—

That's what she said to me:

You're gonna want a bed to lay your head

And a little sympathy

 

There are things you can replace

And others you cannot

The time has come to weigh those things

This space is getting hot

You know this space is getting hot

 

I told Althea

I'm a roving sign

And I was born to be a bachelor

Althea told me, "OK. That's fine."

So now I'm out trying to catch her

 

Can't talk to you without talking to me

We're guilty of the same old thing

Thinking a lot about less and less

And forgetting the love we bring