Lyrics of 'Ain't Life A Brook' by Greg Brown

(Ferron)

I watch you reading a book
I get to thinking our
Love's a polished stone
You give me a long drawn look
I know pretty soon
You're gonna leave our home
And of course I mind
Especially when I'm
Thinking from my heart
But life don't clickety-clack
Down a straight-line track
It comes together and it comes apart
You say you hope I'm not the kind
To make you feel obliged
To go ticking through your time
With a pained look in your eyes
You give me the furniture
Well divide the photographs
Go out to dinner one more time
Have ourselves a bottle of wine
And a couple of laughs

When first you left I stayed so sad
I wouldn't sleep
I know love's a gift
I thought yours was mine
And something
That I could keep
Now I realize
Time is not the only compromise
A bird in the hand
Could be an all-night stand
Between a blazing fire
And a pocket of skies
So I hope I'm not the kind
To make you feel obliged
To go ticking through your time
With a pained look in your eyes
I covered the furniture
I framed the photographs
Went out to dinner one more time
Had myself a bottle of wine
And a couple of laughs
Just the other day
I got your letter in the mail
I'm happy for you
It's been so long
You've been wanting
A cabin and a backwoods trail
And I think that's great
Me I seem to find myself in school
It's all okay
I just want to say
I'm so relieved
We didn't do it cruel

But ain't life a brook
Just when I get to
Feeling like a polished stone
I get me a long drawn look
It's kind of a drag
To find yourself alone
And sometimes I mind
Especially when I'm
Waiting on your heart
But life don't clickety-clack
Down a straight-line track
It comes together
And it comes apart
'Cause I know you're not the kind
To make me feel obliged
To go ticking through my time
With a pained look in my eyes
I sold the furniture
I put away the photographs
Went out to dinner one last time
Had myseff a bottle of wine
And a couple of laughs
For wasn't it fine