I Believed

I believed before— I let my heart go wild Like a child who's never been deceived before Then she left me there, Standing by the stair, Left me crying, Not denying She'd been anything but true— Oh, I believed before, Before I knew. I've believed since then, And there've been more goodbyes, And more lies that foolish me believed again; And with each affair I'd been unaware— Not conceiving, Not believing What my heart already knew— I've been naive again, Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you go on until The very end of time, Cry a million tears, Through a hundred years, To search for love sublime? Or would you hide your heart away In some dark and lonely shell, And close the door For evermore On knowing love's sweet spell? I'll believe again, Without a backward glance, Take a chance she's not the kind who'll leave again, Because I know so well Living in a shell Isn't living, Isn't giving, Isn't anything at all— So I'll believe again, Each time I fall.