Before the Call

There was sunlight lying on the bedroom floor, A white shirt hanging from the wardrobe door, The washing machine was keeping perfect time, And nothing in the world had crossed my mind. I matched the socks and folded every sleeve, I watched the curtains moving in the breeze, The coffee on the table had gone cold, It was an ordinary morning, nothing more. Then the telephone began to ring, Such a small and harmless sound, I wiped my hands upon my dress, And watched my whole life falling down. Take me back to before the call, Before one sentence changed it all, I was folding clothes, the window was open, I still belonged to a world that was not broken, Take me back to before the call, Even for one minute, let me not know what I know. I do not remember sitting in the chair, But when the voice stopped, I was already there, Your blue shirt still resting in my hands, Like something I no longer understood. The sunlight had not moved across the wall, The washing machine kept turning through it all, A neighbor laughed somewhere out in the street, How could the world continue normally? Someone asked me if I understood, Someone said my name again, But I was staring at the open door, Waiting for you to walk back in. Take me back to before the call, Before one sentence changed it all, I was folding clothes, the window was open, I still belonged to a world that was not broken, Take me back to before the call, Even for one minute, let me not know what I know. Let the telephone keep sleeping, Let the morning stay untouched, Let me hold your shirt without knowing It is the closest I will come. Years have passed, but nothing leaves that room, I painted every wall, I changed the curtains too, I moved the bed and threw the old phone out, But that morning never really let me go. Sometimes sunlight falls the same old way, And for a second, I am back inside that day, The clothes are warm, the window lets spring in, And you are still alive because the phone has not yet rung. So I close my eyes and sing it loud, As if sound can turn the hours, As if my voice could reach that room And tear the future from its power. Take me back to before the call, Before one sentence changed it all, I was folding clothes, the window was open, I still belonged to a world that was not broken, Take me back to before the call, Even for one minute, let me not know what I know. I would not waste the morning, I would leave the clothes undone, I would run through every doorway, I would find you, I would come. I would say the words I swallowed, I would hold you till you knew, I would give the years ahead of me For one more hour with you. Take me back to before the call, Before one sentence changed it all, I was folding clothes, the window was open, I still belonged to a world that was not broken, Take me back to before the call— Even for one minute, Let me not know What I know.