[Intro — distant muffled voices, low drone, faint scratching] [Her — muttering] Oh, I hear you... Every damn one of you. Keep talking. [Verse 1] I hear your footsteps passing I hear you laugh outside I hear you whisper secrets As though I've gone and died You think these walls are silence You think they've made me deaf I've heard every word you've spoken And I remember every breath [Her — muttered] Ignore me, will you? I'll remember that. [Chorus] I can hear you I can hear every word Every laugh, every whisper Every lie I've ever heard Go on living like I'm nothing Go on walking where you please But I'll remember every voice That wouldn't answer me [Verse 2] I curse your morning coffee May it always taste like dirt I curse your favorite trousers May the waistband always hurt May every door you hurry through Catch your sleeve along the way May your pillow always have one lump That never goes away [Her — little cracked laugh] Heh-heh... That one's for you. [Instrumental — crooked fiddle, low guitar, faint voices beyond the walls] [Verse 3] I hear somebody singing I hear somebody grin I hear you having conversations While I'm listening within You don't know what it's like here When every hour stands still When you can hear the whole world moving But cannot move at will [Music darkens] I curse you... I curse every last one of you... [Chorus — angrier] I CAN HEAR YOU Don't pretend that you forgot I know every voice outside here I know every one that's not Coming closer Calling back Opening anything for me You have all the world around you And all I have... is me. [Long pause — distant voices continue] [Her — quieter] You can leave. I can't. [Bridge — almost spoken] That's what makes you brave, isn't it? Knowing you can walk away. Knowing morning comes for you. Knowing doors still open. [low cracked laugh] Enjoy it. [Final Verse] Someday one of you will wonder If I'm listening anymore Someday one of you might foolishly Come wandering too close And when I hear those footsteps I'll know exactly who And all these lovely little curses... I've been saving them for you. [Final Chorus — half-chanted] I can hear you Yes, I hear you still Keep your laughter Keep your freedom Keep pretending that you will Never hear me Never need me Never wonder where I've been [everything drops out] [Her — very softly] I curse you. [beat] And you. [beat] Oh... especially you.
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