From the recording Down With the Ship
How I usually write a vocal melody is: I play the song and sing some improvised lyrics over it till I find a melody I like. Then I write real lyrics that fit that melody. But what I did for lots of these songs was to just keep the words that I originally improvised. This is one of those songs. I wasn’t thinking about what I was saying especially, but in retrospect, I suppose these words are about my girlfriend. (Does this mean that I am secretly romantic? …No! “I remember the times I DIED this morning!” That is scary! DIED?! Youch! What a spooky song! You are creeped out! You do NOT think it is cute or sweet!)
Lyrics
Well, I remember that I woke up this morning. Well, I remember the sky dripped to the ground. Til I walked across the lawn and I was gone. You’ll never know just how I felt this morning (I can prove what I saw). And I could never prove a thing, but you know what is best for me and I know what’s best for you. I sat right down to eat my lunch and now I see you everywhere. Well, I ate the days and months and years and now I’m seeing you again. I remember the times I died this morning. I remember the way you bailed me out. And now the yard has opened up to let me in (let me in). You pushed my spine in place this morning (I can prove what you saw). And you could never prove a thing, but you did what’s best for me.