Separate Lives from Old First by Hans Bilger

Separate Lives
© 2013 Hans Bilger

I put too much stock in a birdsong
I personify the night
I position my heart places it cannot belong
at suffocating depths and unsafe heights

I might plod over frost in the morning
I might plunge ever downward and deep
in search of a love that walks in without warning
in search of a love I can keep

but if I found you would you fall away
like smoke before my eyes?
will I be near you later than today?
or would we lead our separate lives?
or would we lead our separate lives?

yesterday I walked down to the old pond
my feet felt bitten by the cold
and as I sat down upon a gnarled, mossy lawn
I conspired with the mist to bend and fold

in the clouds I swear I saw you
I saw you in the clouds
but the sunlight shone right through you
you were nothing but a shroud

A starling never whistled you good morning
no constellation smiled in the night
we imagine companions without warrant
and marvel at our false augmented sight

oh my dear, you’ll always fall away
like smoke before my eyes
I’m convinced that love will never stay
and we’ll lead our separate lives
we’ll lead our separate lives
we’ll lead our separate lives
till you prove me otherwise

• Acoustic
• Americana
• composer
• indie folk
• jazz
• songwriter
• New York