IN A ROOMINGHOUSE


   In a roominghouse, in a commonwealth
     where I lived a season's time.
   I knew a woman who f**ked her dog
     in a cellar meant for wine.
   And the boarders we, young men all three
     would listen at her door.
   Stiffling laughter with hands on mouths
     and eyes down on the floor.
   And she tore up the house in a drunken rage
   in the home of her mother and father's old age.
        And she wanted somebody to save her
        from sorrow and rage.

  When the nights grew cold she'd pull out old 
    home movies of her past.
  Picnic table, party dress,
    New England overcast.
  And she pointed to the uncle who
    had raped her in her bed.
  "I never told nobody" 
    was all she ever said.
  And she broke apart the furniture 
  and piece by piece fed it into the fire.
         And she wanted somebody to save her
         from sin and desire.

  In the mornings after nights before 
    blearry eyed and feeling down.
  Coffee and apologies 
    were offered all around.
  But the nights returned and the candles burned 
    at both ends of the dawn.
  Sleep was just a dream we dreamed
    as the party partied on.
  And she sang a song in German
  'til she got too drunk to remember the words.
          And she wanted somebody to save her
          but nobody heard.

  One afternoon I came home too soon
    coming through the kitchen door.
  Blood was smeared on all the walls,
    it was dripping on the floor.
  But I found her there in an easychair
    with a towel around her face.
  She'd wrecked her car outside a bar 
    and just left it in it's place.
  And she said she'd met a woman, 
  but she'd got too drunk to remember her name.
          And she wanted somebody to save her
          from pity and shame.
  
  Then the winter flew and spring was new
    and a season's time was gone.
  For backpack boys with ponytails
    it was time for moving on.
  And a woman made of flesh and blood
    with a heart of broken glass
  Waved goodbye with questions
    that only eyes can ask.
  And she swore that she'd remember me
  with a hug and a kiss and I promised the same.
           And she wanted somebody to save her
           but nobody came







   Words and Music by Stephen Fields