Lady with the Braid

A friend emailed me these song lyrics. It seems fairly standard until that fatal final paragraph... Actually I think the whole thing is brilliant. Those desperately hospitable endless questions - are you too cold, which side of the bed, is it too bright - remind me of my mother. When guests come round to the house, she asks them what they would like to drink/eat with an eagerness that borders on hysteria.





Would you care to stay till sunrise?

It’s completely your decision,

It’s just that going home is such a ride,

such a ride, Going home is such a ride,

Going home is such a ride,

Going home is such a low, low, lonely ride



Would you hang your denim jacket

near the poster by Picasso?

Do you sleep on the left side, or the right?

Or the right?

Would you mind if I leave on the light?

Would you mind, if it isn’t too bright?

Now I need the window open,

So if you happen to get chilly,

There’s this coverlet my cousin hand-crocheted,

Hand-crocheted,

Do you mind if the edges are frayed?

Would you like to unfasten my braid?



Shall I make you, in the morning, a cup of homemade coffee?

I will sweeten it with honeyand with cream

When you sleep, do you have dreams?

You can read the early paper,

and I can watch you while you shave,

oh God, the mirror’s cracked

When you leave, will you come back?

You don’t have to answer that at all

The bathroom door is just across the hall

you’ll find an extra towel on the rack

on the paisley-pattern papered wall

There’s a comb on the shelf

I papered that wall myselfthat wall

myself



Would you care to stay till sunrise?

It’s completely your decision,

It’s just the night cuts through me like a knife,

like a knife

Would you care to stay awhile and save my life?

Would you care to stay awhile and save my life?

I don’t know what made me say that

I’ve got this funny sense of humour

You know I couldn’t be downhearted if I tried

if I tried

It’s just that going home is such a ride

Going home is such a ride

Going home is such a ride

Isn’t going home a low and lonely ride

Isn’t going home a low and lonely ride