Carly Simon Album

What a perfect night
Secrets lights up the sky
Like fireflies do
Thereґs nothing but a silky hope
That old opiate
Between me and you

Donґt look now
Weґre just about there
Weґre just one little breath away
From our affair
From our affair

Donґt move too fast
Donґt run scared
Weґre just one surrender away
From our affair

Donґt you feel like
Youґre coming down with something
Some great fancy flu
Donґt you feel like youґre
Coming down with me
And it doesnґt get sicker than you

Donґt you feel like this is the really good part
Where itґs still up in the air
The perfect romance is never
Stated or sated, deflated or fair

Donґt admit it yet
And donґt stop saying your prayers
Weґre just one little heartbeat away
From our affair
From our affair

Thereґs a light in my window
And a little red ladybug in my hair
Just one turn down an empty street
Away,away, away
From our affair
From our affair

Thereґs a white-hot desire
Of which I am pleasantly aware
Just one more "wait a minute baby"
Away, away, away, away
From our affair
From our affair
From our affair

Maybe I didnґt love you
As I turn onto Union Square
Maybe I didnґt love you
As I slip my token into the turnstile
Maybe I only need to think about the past
You can understand
As I wedge myself between two boom-box boys
On the A train

Maybe I donґt love you now
As I check out a brand new stove
Walking by a kitchen-wares store on Lex
Maybe I just needed to love
Anyone at all

Maybe I wonґt ever love you again
As I walk into Mannyґs for some strings
Maybe we wonґt ever be friends

Could I have needed to love the dark
As I try to avoid a jakey on Broome
Could I have conjured you
On imaginary avenues

Well maybe I need to merge with the all
As I stare at the sunset over the Hudson
And there youґd become one of
So many stars

What if I couldnґt tell you apart
What if I couldnґt pick out your face
What if I didnґt love you
Didnґt love you
There are so many stars

What if I couldnґt pick out your face
Or find your hands
There are so many stars

What if I didnґt love you
But what if I do
How will I know
What will you do
When I find you
There are so many stars

What if youґre out there
And I just didnґt see you
I could lose you just like that
Maybe forever
There are so many stars
So many stars
There are so many stars
There are so many stars

So many tech-heads
Recent invasion
I stretch out my long legs
And I kick away the mouse pad, baby

Amazon, eBay, Oracle, he say
He promise a freebee
But heґs such a pokey little guy
Wait, I hear big footsteps
Thud, thumping out of the past
That big dumb guy is here at last
That big dumb guy is here at last

Cyberman lights up
But mostly he floppy
Computer man crashes
Heґs so humpty dumpty, baby
Now he tries this experiment
Though he knows itґs so low-tech
He tries patting his forehead
While heґs rub, rub, rubbing my stomach, baby

But he canґt do it, can he?
No, no he canґt do that at all
But wait, I hear big footsteps
Thud, thumbing out of the past
Sure enough, that big dumb guy
Is here at last
That big dumb guy is here at last
Big papa bear

Maybe you can remember
It wasnґt that long ago
When you dialed a number
You got a living, breathing human being
On the telephone

Donґt want nothing to do
But just study the skin on your face
I want to look up at the sky
And watch the sunset
With someone like you

Wait, I hear big footsteps
Thud, thumbing out of the past
That big dumb guy is here at last
That big dumb guy is here at last
That big dumb guy is here, he's here

In fact heґs brought his
big raccoon coat with him
And he doesnґt even know itґs
politically incorrect

That big dumb guy is here at last
I see him now walking torward me
Letґs get it on with your big bad self

Get it on babe, Get it on babe
Get it on babe, Get it on babe
That big dumb guy is here at last
Big, big, big, big, big
Big dumb guy
Oh, ha - smartest guy
I ever knew yeah
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
kiss me, kiss me now
If feels so good

I donґt want to have to go into those chat rooms anymore
I donґt want to see that pinwheel go round
and around and around
Every time I try to open any window
Hold me, you big dumb guy
You smart guy

A grey day in February
Some flecks of white, but mostly brown
Purple surprises riding in on a nerve
Begins to excite you before it settles down

Itґs after the knives and the sutures and needles
Iґm left with an arrow that points at my heart

I call it the seat of my sentimental sorrow
Gone seems to be one of the sum of my parts

And the night is cold
As the coldest nights are
Thereґs a wise woman
She comes from an evening star
She says: Look for the signs
You wonґt have to look far
Lead with your spirit and follow
Follow your scar

A man I knew once said he wanted to see me
I said Iґd been sick but was on the mend
I told him a few of the overall details
He said: Thatґs too bad
And heґs never called me again

What a gift in disguise that poor little puppy
So scared of misfortune and always on guard
A big man will love you
Even more when youґre hurtinґ
And a really big man
Loves a really good scar

Cause the dawn breaks
And itґs breaking your heart
Thereґs a wise woman
She sits at the end of the bar
She says: Look for the signs
You wonґt have to look far
Lead with your spirit and follow
Follow your scar

A grey day in February
Some flecks of white, but mostly brown
The world has tilted but
The world has expanded
And the world has turned
My world upside down

Cause the night is warm and all full of stars
Thereґs a wise woman
Sheґs moved right into my heart
She says: Look for the signs
You wonґt have to look far
Lead with your spirit and follow
Follow
Follow your scar

English translation of Gaelic:

Run with the red deer
And sing with the wind
The magic lasts
And meaning will follow
The scar is God given
As a sign for your life
Strength from your ancestors
And through your own mouth
Strength from memory
Like a tree on the wind
Show me your scar
And I will make it better

A hot cloud was hanginґaround
We were a rowdy crowd
Drinkinґbeer and smokinґ at the end of the pier
Danny was shufflinґ through a magazine
Clippinґout pictures of a car
To get us out of here

Laura was hounding him to get a bike
Warning him the time was now
Or heґd be out on his ear, sheґd disappear

If only we could cross the river
We couldnґt get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears every night

We were all somewhat out of school
Jersey by birth, relaxing but not on a holiday
An appalling amount of time spent at the mall
Not a tragedy, but not exactly the Milky Way

Looking for a bigger laugh, a better store,
A cutter guy, a shorter working day, better pay

If only we could cross the river
We couldnґt get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears
Louder in our ears every night

When Laura and Danny broke up
She set her sights on Billy Stone
Well, I had just split from Jonathan
So by chance, I was all alone
Danny and I got along as well
We spent hours on the phone
Just talkinґon the phone

When I was twenty and crazy as a joke
I went to bed with a broker
When I was broke
I got used to doormen and limousines
And Christmas cards from friends signed by a machine
And woman, they were calling me "Maґam"
As they cleaned up after me

If only we could cross the river
But something is holding us back
A way of life thatґs too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad track

If only we could cross the river
We couldnґt get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears every night

Dear Laura, I know itґs been years
Since I crossed the bridge back to the Palisades
How are your kids?
Mine are both swell little fellas
Here are some clippings of me and Brad
At a charity ball and a White House sup
Iґve perfected my smile for the camera
Chin is up
I miss you all so much

If only I could cross the river
But something me holding us back
A way of life thatґs too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad
Lines are to the railroad

If only we could cross the river
We couldnґt get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears

If only we could cross the river
But something is holding us back
A way of life thatґs too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad
Lines are to the railroad
Railroad track

All my doctors and friends
Have concocted these theories
Weary of seeing me day after day
On the edge of my bed
Leery of living
My laughter on hold
My sadness on stay

And itґs been this way for quite a while
Yes, I forget how to smile
Iґd like to rely on my old game and yet
Even that I forget
Itґs not there, I regret

Couldnґt get up today
I pretended a fever
Any excuse but the truth will do
I donґt lie very well
No Iґm not a deceiver
But I canґt bring myself to admit that Iґm blue

And itґs been this way
For quite a while
Yes, I forget how to smile
Iґd like to rely on my old game and yet
Even that I forget
Itґs not there, I regret

The clock and the calendar
Both an assault
Time goes so slow
It must be my fault
I act like Iґm okay
When Iґm not okay at all

I forget what to do
I forget what it all means
Donґt remember if love ever really felt good
I forget to be here
And not in-between
Iґd put on a good show
If only I could

And itґs been this way for quite a while
Yes, I forget how to smile
Iґd like to rely on my old game and yet
Even that I forget
Itґs not there, I regret
I forget

Some day Iґm going to grow up
And be every manґs dream
Some day Iґm going to grow up
And forget this sad little me
Iґm going to shine in the spotlight
Wear sexy clothes
Be somebody everybody wants to meet
And no one ever really knows
No one will ever know me

Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones
Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones

Critics will adore me
At least they will at first
But you see I already know this
So it canґt never really hurt
And if it does, Iґm an actress
Iґll play it nonchalant
In the total scheme of things itґs insignificant
(sure I can take the knocks)

Cause Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones
Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones

I may not be that pretty now
But whoґs the referee
Standards of beauty
Will be redefined because of me

And then theyґll be the scandals
Everywhere my name
Men will jump from balconies
And Iґll just shrug and take the blame
(yeah, theyґll say I died for love)

Cause Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones
Well, Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones

My acceptance speech will be a milestone
Never will such a star
Have ever graced the microphone
And of course Iґll thank my agent
The way they always do
Though I could have done it without him
And that goes for the Academy too
And the makeup people and the lighting designers and everybody else

Cause Iґm an actress throughand through
And to my bones
Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones
Iґm an actress yeah, yeah, yeah

Iґll be gracious to the lesser stars
And generous to the unknowns
And if another actress threatens
My position on the throne

Well, I donґt know exactly what Iґll do
I donґt exactly know
But I know that it could turn into
One of my most poignant roles
Everyone will have their handkerchiefs out
And theyґll have to leave the theater early
And then theyґll go home
And whatґll they do?
They`ll have a big glass of alcohol

Cause Iґm an actress through and through
And to my bones
And if I make it to the top I wonґt be overthrown
Iґm an actress ah, yeah, yeah

Iґm really the kind to dazzle and twirl
Have tantrums like silver slanting rain
Walk up to strangers
Parade with my pride
And stride like a lion up
A mad mountainside
So steep, so lovely
Donґt think about the fall

Then suddenly, no warning
No nothing, I`m small
Iґm small
Smaller than anyone, smaller than you

You see, Iґm really the kind
To cower in the corner
And pray that some guy
Will have a kind word to say

Then be tiny in his arms
And be stroked to my heart
And coaxed and caressed
And combed and undressed
Then finally Iґll trust him
Abandon it all

Then suddenly, no warning
No nothing, I`m too tall
Iґm tall, taller than anyone
Taller than boys
Iґm tall, taller than anyone
Taller than you

The pendulum swings both ways
And I lose my equilibrium
I swing so fast inside it's motion
That I become the hum
I become the hum

You see Iґm really the kind
To walk the avenues
And criticize the mannequins
And ogle the jewels

Justify spending the cash
I donґt have
Break resolutions
With a naughty little laugh

Iґm nothing unless
Iґm the belle of the ball
And then suddenly
No warning, no nothing
Iґve got it all, I see it all
I have it all, I have it all
It is, it is, it is, it is

It is, my soul, my soul

We, your dearest friends
Are having dinner without you
Weґre witty and we use it to be vicious
In just another minute
Weґll laughing about you
To the untrained eye
It wouldnґt look suspicious

We, your dearest friends
Donґt really care if you have needs
Your hopes and dreams
Are trivial by your standards
We make fun of how you sing
And then we imitate your speech
And the stupid things
You say we like to slander

But we wonґt reel you out too far
ґCause after all, we need you for
Our ongoing quest

Weґve bonded here in faithlessness
To undermine your happiness
Toying with your paranoia
Everything you do annoys us
It annoys us

We remember how
You bought us all those gifts
You liked to make us think
You were so generous
Be careful in the future
Of everything you say and do
`Cause it can and will be used
Against you by us

We your dearest friends
Judge you "guilty“
Here and now
Of thinking youґre a star
When itґs all over
Nobody wants you
And we the least of all
Itґs been a long time since
You had those famous lovers


But we wonґt reel you out too far
`Cause after all, we need you for
Our ongoing quest

Weґve bonded here
In faithlessness
To undermine your happiness
Toying with your paranoia
Everything you do annoys us
(it annoys the hell out of us)

Itґs not the straw
No, itґs the final straw youґll say
Finally youґve grown a sturdy backbone
Thereґll be no invitation to
Your rocky coast this year
Your queenly voice will
Ice us down the telephone


Youґll never guess whoґs joining us
For brandy later on
Thatґs right, itґs your bête noir from hell
Thatґs who
Are you worried we might spill the beans
Are you worried we might tell
About your little visit to the bin when
you were cuckoo?

But we wonґt reel you out too far
`Cause after all, we need you for
Our ongoing quest

Weґve bonded here in faithlessness
To undermine your happiness
Toying with your paranoia
Everything you do annoys us
It annoys us

Toying with your paranoia

You have an unforgiveable personality
Unforgettable, yes
We were so happy once in the Garden of
the Finzi-Continis
Oh, yes we were
Never more, never more
Here comes the waiter
Weґll just put it on your house charge
Youґll never know the difference
Never notice

There they are
Smiling so wide
Like thereґs nothing to lose
And nothing to hide
They look forward with innocence
She is his bride
The futureґs a radiant blur
So I wonder whatever became of him
Whatever became of her?


A little boutique
On the Upper East Side
Picture a couple so dignified
Two hat boxes fall
And feathers collide
Darling tell me
Which one do you prefer?
Well I wonder whatever became of him
Whatever became of her?

Everything breaks
Except the broken plates
Everything gets stolen
Except the things
You donґt want anyway
The things you donґt want anyway


She played the piano
And he used to smoke
She used to slap her own thigh
When he made a joke
He started her heart
Whenever he spoke
His own turning cold, like a bird
Well I wonder whatever became of him
Whatever became of her?

I want to say, "No, go back, resist
Donґt step out of the photograph
Donґt hurt yourselves
Stay innocent
Donґt hurt yourselves“

Two shadows playing
Across the lawn
Is it tomorrowґs twilight
Or yesterdayґs dawn?
You can hardly make out
What theyґve got on
But theyґre mighty in love, youґll agree
So I wonder whatever became of him
Whatever became of me?

How can I go on when every thought hurts
I flirt with the notion of no more songs
My old familiar foe, self pity, haunts me

Iґm stuck in some over-the-mountain town
In a meaningless bar where fat hands
round the steiners
And no one cares if it suns or pours
In an hour between trains
Barney puts the record on
And the aimless rise to dance

Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
I see you, George, in your
apartment on Riverside Drive
Some fifty years ago
Your fingers on the keys
Looking for the song
Looking for that hook

Embrace me, you irreplaceable you

Who were you then?
Did you have a woman?
Were you hard up for cash?
Did you ever know youґd be heard in
the middle distance
In some over-the-mountain town?

Connecting to the muscles of the dancers
In this close and smoky room
Who were you then?
Were you sure of your tune?
Or were your dreams and your courage all broken down like mine?

Now thereґs something that clutches the heart
A melody that stays
Year after year
I love all the many charms about you
Above all I want my arms around you

Iґm already late for my train
But I donґt think about that
I think of you, George
At your piano, sweating in the summer heat
By the way, did you get your girl,
Did you by your house in the country?
Did you wait for something that never came?
Did you die still waiting for your train?

Donґt be a naughty baby, come to mama
come to mama do

Some part of your heart twists and turns in mine
Your soul rises
Thereґs an angel in charge
Thereґs one note that weeps the truth
And makes my life mean something
Just for the length of
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Donґt be a naughty baby, come to mama,
come to mama do

I will go home, I will try again
I will catch the train
Catch another breath
Move back to the piano and
let the notes do what theyґll do
In honor of you, George
In honor of you