One For the Road
Another Saturday night in a piano bar
Trying to lighten the mood I was in.
When the waitress said "Last call!",
I ordered a highball
To top off the draft beer and gin.
The guy at the keyboard glanced up at me,
Didn't seem all too keen to go home.
He said, "One for the road?"
I said, "Sure, make it good.
Help me get through the night on my own.
Play a tune that reminds me of yesterday,
Life was sweet and complete as could be.
There must be a song
About why love goes wrong,
If you know one, please play it for me."
He said, "Mister, I've just the right song for you,
I wrote it myself years ago.
It's not one of my best,
But it suits your request,
'cause I've been in your shoes, and I know."
As he played and he sang, that piano man,
I couldn't help it, I started to cry.
It was as if he knew me,
His words cut right through me,
And I finally understood why.
Then they turned up the lights in that piano bar,
I thanked him and tipped him a ten.
"It may take me a while
To relearn how to smile,
But thanks to you I'll start living again."
No one understands love, it's a mystery.
All too often it's far from ideal.
It may flame out too fast,
But though love doesn't last
Doesn't mean that it never was real.
That's the lesson I learned in that piano bar,
Now my heart is beginning to mend.
It was just what I needed,
I'm glad that I heeded
Good advice from a wise piano man.
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