CH 11: Book Club Night

[Intro — female, spoken] Jen… I’m home… You thought I was dead? [Verse 1 — male] Keys in the lock, hand on the door Walked in and I don’t know this man no more Twenty-five years chasing every cheap thrill Built up a wall and I built it to kill Thought the hunt was forever, always something new Turned around and found I was coming back to you I want to fix it, break through the stone But a voice from the stairs cuts straight to the bone [Female — spoken, cold] Robert? Is that you? For goodness sake — I’d hoped you were dead. [Verse 2 — male] Not the welcome, not the words I hoped to hear Not the tears, not the arms pulling me near You leaned on the banister, measured and plain Twenty-five years written all over your face [Female — spoken] You took far too long to reach that conclusion. Decades too late. [Chorus — both] I’m not dead, I’m still here! You mourned me off, then you popped a beer! Not the end, not the grave! But the man I was — was he yours to save? No mourning, no tears, just a book-club night! I’m alive, but I’m losing the fight! Not dead yet, not gone, but I’ve got to pay! Start again — I don’t know the way! [Verse 3 — male] They said I died, Bob Jones, similar name Office confusion, everybody played the same game Wrong man gone, but the grief was real Then the drinks were poured and the friendships sealed A book club started while you thought I was gone Alice in Wonderland — carry on You were mad at the years, the walls, the cage You were going to live, you were turning the page I stand here begging, trying to atone But you’re already building a world of your own [Female — spoken, amused] I was going to have some fun without you. [Bridge — male] You can’t be serious, that’s what you say Think I’m sick, or lying, or making a play Think I want a yacht, think it’s all a trick But I’m finally seeing the mess that I picked [Bridge — female, clipped] Pour a scotch. Calm down. Here are the terms. Be nice to Vincent. Be nice to Michelle. Read the room. Play the part. Then we talk. [Male — spoken] But I haven’t read the book. [Female — shouted] You’ve seen the film! Now get the nibbles! [Final Chorus — both] I’m not dead, I’m still here! You mourned me off, then you popped a beer! Not the end, not the grave! But the man I was — was he yours to save? No mourning, no tears, just a book-club night! I’m alive, but I’m losing the fight! Not dead yet, not gone, but I’ve got to pay! Start again — I don’t know the way! [Outro — female, spoken] Get the nibbles. [Male] Twenty-five years… [Female] Too late. [Both] But I’m not dead.