[Intro - spoken, hoarse, piano + brushed cymbal, club ambience] _I went. God help me... I went._ [Verse 1 - upright bass, brushes, vibraphone, smoky cellar jazz, slow] I shouldn’t have come here, I shouldn’t have stayed Shouldn’t have watched her walk in that way Nineteen and fearless, laughing at sin God help me, I let the night begin I stood when I saw her — the habit of youth Pulled out her chair and betrayed every truth I’ve ever sworn to, every vow I’ve kept My God, I was happy... and I almost wept [Pre-Chorus - accordion enters, muted trumpet, voice shaking] She was so nervous she knocked over wine I covered her hand — that was the crime Not the touch, but the way I didn’t let go The way I let myself feel twenty again [Chorus - orchestra sparse, no "yeah-yeah", deep baritone, breaking] Oh, mademoiselle, one night of spring In this cellar where lost angels sing I should be home where the vigil awaits But I’m here stealing moments from the fates I am falling too... past all control She laughs and her light breaks into my soul One night of spring... and I’m damned for good Mademoiselle... if only I could [Verse 2 - saxophone lick, bass walking, confessional, self-loathing] She tells me of school, of her silly band And I hang on each word like a drowning man I tell her of poets and of things I learned Just to see her eyes widen, just to feel I’ve earned This one night... this one sin... When they play "La Vie en Rose" I give in I whisper the words I used to know by heart And for one song, I’m not torn apart [Pre-Chorus - bigger, strings swell, trumpet cries then mutes] Her knee brushes mine — an accident, grace And I don’t move away, I hold my place I am a coward, a thief, a fool Stealing her spring to warm my old rule [Chorus - repeat, add choir "ahh", more anguish] Oh, mademoiselle, one night of spring The trumpets sound like funeral bells that ring I should be beside a hospital bed But I’m here instead, where the living are led I am falling too... God, I confess In her eyes I am a man again, not this mess One night of spring... and I’ve lost my way Mademoiselle... I cannot stay [Bridge - breakdown, spoken over solo cello + piano, breaking] _I walked her home. No words. Just rain. At her door I wanted to beg, to explain, To say "run away with me" like a boy of nineteen. Instead I said "next Sunday?"... I'm so obscene... Then I went home. To the beeping. To the wife Who smiled in her sleep and called me her life. And I... I sat in the dark... and I cried..._ [Final Chorus - full orchestra, tragic, voice cracking, final restraint] Oh, mademoiselle, one night of spring Will have to be all... everything I gave you my smile, you gave me air But I belong to a different prayer I am falling too... and I must not fall Next Sunday will kill us both, that’s all One night of spring... goodbye, my dream Mademoiselle... you can’t redeem [Outro - slow fade, vinyl crackle, trumpet solo, hospital beep fading in] _I won’t be there... I can’t be there..._
