You Knew I’d Understand

(ooh) (ahh) Your house was white Red curtains moving Late light on the table Glasses, warm plates Everything careful Everything placed right You made a small world For one hard night (one hard night) You started laughing Then started telling Names I remember Stories I don’t Your voice went higher When anger returned Then low again Like nothing burned I said very little You needed that more You knew I’d understand Before I spoke You knew I’d understand That kind of smoke (understand) (understand) You knew I’d understand Why some wounds stay young Why people grow older But not what was done Sometimes your eyes filled But never for long You kept rearranging Forks, bread, the room You said these things to me Not everyone gets told Some pain wants silence Some pain wants a home (wants a home) You knew I’d understand Before I spoke You knew I’d understand That kind of smoke You knew I’d understand Why the voice can shake Even when the body Looks composed and safe I watched you hold yourself together And come apart by inches (by inches) You knew I’d understand So I stayed still You knew I’d understand And maybe I did You knew I’d understand When I walked outside I carried no story Just the weight inside Outro (ooh) (you knew) (ahh)