The glow of ashes is now dying down
I listen to the radio
As the sandman starts to come around
Inviting in the dark and cold

My friends from school it seems all married now
And I'm the only one left alone
They had their lovers then I still recall
I don't know where I've gone so wrong

Was it lack of tack or ugliness, what is this curse that I possess
Befriended just with emptiness and dreams I've never known
I'll pray to God that I'll be found and someday soon they'll come around
But no, I'd only pull them down, I'm better off alone

I'll stay here quietly existing with
An open door for your return
And late at night when I retire again
I'll leave a light or two to burn

We almost married once so long ago
I always thought that it would come
But now to think of it as I grow old
What else was there I could have done

Was it lack of tack or ugliness, what is this curse that I possess
Befriended just with emptiness and dreams I'll never known
I'll pray to God that I'll be found and someday soon you'll come around
But no, I'd only pull you down, I'm better off alone

 

Rick Richardson at the Davenport Hotel / 1977

NOTES: This song was recorded at Applewood Studio.  I am playing guitar. After writing this song I played it for Terry Miller.  He looked at me and said, "That's sad". I remember playing this song at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane.  I was looking at the people in the audience (while singing) and noticed a girl that was crying.  I thought to myself, "I wonder what's wrong ... why is this girl crying?"   I then realized that I was singing this (rather depressing) song. I struck me as odd that I was singing a song that could effect someone so much, even though I wasn't even paying attention to what I was singing about.