But Then We'd Never Have Lunch

[Chloe, conversational] Been thinkin' 'bout this mornin'. And I've found one little flaw. If I'd kept the sun right where it was... We'd still be there in awe. Which sounds lovely— For an hour. Maybe two if there's coffee enough. But by eleven-thirty, child, Eternal sunrise might get rough. [Verse 1] The leaves would stay all golden. The sky would stay that blue. The breeze would stay exactly right. The mountains keep their view. No rain to spoil me hair, child. No clouds to hide the sun. No reason whatsoever For a perfect day to be done. [pause] Except... Then we'd never get to have lunch. [piano flourish] And I was promised sloppy joes.. [Chorus — bright, lightly bouncing] So let the sun keep movin'. Let the morning wander by. Let the clouds do somethin' stupid In the middle of the sky. 'Cause I could hold a perfect moment. I could make it stay just so. But then we'd never have lunch together— So I suppose I'll let it go. [Verse 2 — fiddle joins] If autumn stayed forever, We'd never see the snow. Which sounds fantastic briefly— Till ya've somewhere fun to go. No sledding down the hillside. No footprints in the white. No crowd around a fireplace On a freezing winter night. If every song stayed at the chorus, We'd never get the verse. And a perfect thing forever, child, Might make the perfect thing worse. [Pre-Chorus] Funny how a little wanting Sounds so reasonable at first. Just keep this. Just fix that. Just make sure nobody hurts. Then ya look a little farther Than the thing ya want today— And discover all tomorrows That yer wish would take away. [Chorus] So let the sun keep movin'. Let the morning wander by. Let somebody burn the coffee. Let it rain when clothes are dry. I could probably fix all of it. [pause] Which is a terrible thing to know. But then we'd never have lunch together— So I suppose I'll let it go. [Bridge — piano drops to a mischievous little figure] Could make every test an easy A. [beat] Wouldn't learn a bloody thing. Could make every song go number one. Wouldn't know which one can sing. Could make everybody like me. [immediate] No. That's creepy. Moving on. Could make every Friday Saturday— [pause] Actually... [faint harmony behind her] You could. [Chloe] Don't encourage me. [guitar strum] And besides— If Friday's always Saturday, Saturday ain't special anymore. That's how ya end up changin' time Because ya didn't wanna do a chore. [Final Chorus — warm, joyful] So let the sun keep movin'! Let the seasons come and go! Let October turn to winter! Let me complain about the snow! Let today become tomorrow. Let me find out what comes next. Maybe life's a little better, child, When ya don't know what to expect. I could hold a perfect moment. Maybe someday I'll want to. [music briefly hesitates] That's the bit I oughta remember— Wanting doesn't mean I should do. So let the whole world keep on turnin'. There's places we've still got to go. And we're all havin' lunch together— [spoken] So, universe? You're free to go. [Outro — original “Morning Ought to Stay” melody] This morning ought to stay... [she catches herself] Nah. This morning ought to matter. Then it ought to go away. 'Cause there's lunch, And friends, And afternoon, And sunsets still to see. [faint whisper] You could always make another. [Chloe, amused] I know, child. That's what worries me.