Lyric That s The Way I ve Always Heard It Should Be

(Carly Simon/Jacob Brackman)

My father sits at night with no lights on
His cigarette glows in the dark.
The living room is still;
I walk by, no remark.
I tiptoe past the master bedroom where
My mother reads her magazines.
I hear her call sweet dreams,
But I forgot how to dream.

But you say it s time we moved in together
And raised a family of our own, you and me -
Well, that s the way I ve always heard it should be:
You want to marry me, we ll marry.

My friends from college they re all married now;
They have their houses and their lawns.
They have their silent noons,
Tearful nights, angry dawns.
Their children hate them for the things they re not;
They hate themselves for what they are-
And yet they drink, they laugh,
Close the wound, hide the scar.But you say it s time we moved in together
And raised a family of our own, you and me -
Well, that s the way I ve always heard it should be:
You want to marry me, we ll marry.

You say we can keep our love alive
Babe - all I know is what I see -
The couples cling and claw
And drown in love s debris.
You say we ll soar like two birds through the clouds,
But soon you ll cage me on your shelf -
I ll never learn to be just me first
By myself.

Well O.K., it s time we moved in together
And raised a family of our own, you and me -
Well, that s the way I ve always heard it should be,
You want to marry me, we ll marry,
We ll marry.