Pretend Fiancée

When he was 31, she was 32
they’d known each other forever in that way some people do.
They discussed politics and poetry, the writings of Rimbaud;
all the things college kids think they ought to know.
In the back of the bar room in a crowded wooden booth,
in an endless cloud of smoke and the smell of vermouth
she looked into his eyes as if they were a well
and said, “Listen to me closely so you can hear what I will tell”

All my life I have stood on my own
now I’m afraid of dying alone

The older we become, the pickier we get
and the last thing that we want is to be filled up with regret.
So she packed up her bags and picked up the phone
asked him would he like to head into the great unknown.
Halfway down the highway, on a dusty gravel road,
with the needle pointing empty, the car began to slow.
She opened up her billfold and it was getting thin
she said, “I just don’t know where I’m supposed to begin"

All my life I have stood on my own
now I’m afraid of dying alone

You’re my pretend fiancé, my candy without strings
we forgo emotions and the trouble that they bring
We stumble after pleasure and we bundle up our pain
when all my fun is over I know that you will still remain

He held her in his arms as he reached across the seat
she felt so small, so safe, so strangely complete.
For the first time in his life he wasn’t looking for more
like he’d done with every other girl he’d been with before.
As the sun fell from the sky, the stars all took their place
like a sparkling bowl of crystal turned upside down in space.
He looked into her eyes as if they were a well
and said, “Listen to me closely so you can hear what I will tell.”

All my life I have stood on my own
now I’m afraid of dying alone

You’re my pretend fiancée, my candy without strings
we forgo emotions and the trouble that they bring
We stumble after pleasure and we bundle up our pain
when all my fun is over I know that you will still remain.

I know that you will still remain, I know that you will still remain
won't you please hold my still remains.