Lifeline

Tell me who your father was
how he held you as a baby
tell me all about your man
all his perhaps and all his maybe
tell me how you loved your wife
and what the garden smelled like
tell me how you travelled far
how you saw the sweet sun rise

We want to hear it all again
and also what happened then
the stories of our lifetime
are like our very lifeline
we want to hear them all again
and also what happened then
(and then ... and then ... and then)

Tell us how you found a job
about when your child first spoke
tell me of your operation
and the cigarettes you smoked
tell me how your parents died
how you felt afraid and sad
when was it that you last made love
how many lovers have you had ?

refr.

Tell me how you first got hurt
and what abortion felt like
how you dreamed about revenge
but then success came overnight
tell me 'bout your first erection
and about playing in the snow
tell me how your house burned down
and how your grandchildren did grow

refr.


1996