Before December's End

[Intro: Slow, deliberate minor-key] [Verse 1: Vocals are urgent, confessional, and conversational; cracking and rough] Drunkenly indelicate, you whispered in my ear, Darling, we may be dead before December's end. Pouring the sherry with a practiced, steady hand While the wireless crackles with news from the continent. With news from the continent. [Chorus: Dramatic swell of the music and emotionally charged singing.] It won’t be long… Before the bombs start to fall! Before I get that dreadful call! To the front line… to the front line! So pour another round! And make a joyous sound! To drown out thoughts Of the front line… the front line [Verse 2] I noticed a fray in your velvet lapel, And wept for an hour by the drawing-room door. Not for the borders they're drawing in chalk, But for the way the dust settles… on the hardwood floor. [Vocals crack slightly with deliberate imperfection] On the hardwood floor. [Instrumental Break: a muted trumpet plays a sad, maudlin solo.] [Chorus: Dramatic swell and emotionally charged singing.] It won’t be long Before the bombs start to fall! Before I get that dreadful call! To the front line… to the front line So pour another round! And make a joyous sound! To drown out thoughts Of the front line… the front line [Instrumental Break: a muted trumpet plays a sad, maudlin solo.] [Verse 3] You wind up the clock on the mantelpiece, Measuring hours that we haven't got. Adjusting your collar, you look at the glass, And ask if I think it will rain… Or maybe not. [Instrumental Break: a muted trumpet plays a sad, maudlin solo.] [Outro: Instruments cut out except the brushed snare drum, quietly keeping the rhythm. The vocals are quiet and cracking] Bartender points to the door The fall breeze chills to the core Your kiss on my lips Drunkenly indelicate. Drunkenly indelicate. … Before December's end… Before December's end… We. may. be…. [Whispered] dead. [Silence]