Janis Ian Mechanical Telephone
DARK NIGHT BUT THERE’S PLENTY TO BELIEVE IN
WHY’D YOU HAVE TO LET HER TOUCH YOUR FEELINGS?
I ALWAYS GAVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEEDED
ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS ASK, BUT YOU JUST GOT GREEDY
NOW THE ONLY TIME WE TALK
IS WHEN WE TALK ALONE
TO THE VOICES THAT YOU LEAVE
ON YOUR MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
SOMETIMES I CALL JUST TO HEAR YOUR VOICE
SET FREE OF THE TALONS AND CLAWS
BUT THE MEMORY I KEEP
DOESN’T REALLY LET ME LEAVE ANY WORD AT ALL
YOU ALWAYS LIKED ANY WOMAN WHO WAS EASY
HOPE YOU’VE MET YOUR MATCH
BUT CAN SHE BEAT ME?
YOU ALWAYS SAID I’D BE THE FIRST TO WALK
YOU SAY I’M ALWAYS THE FIRST TO TALK
BUT CAN SHE FREE ME
NOW WE RARELY TALK ALONE
WE USUALLY SPEAK IN GROUPS
TO THE PEOPLE YOU INVITE FOR THE THEATER
AND A BITE WHO ARE USED TO YOU
THEY LIKE TO LISTEN TO THEIR OWN MOUTHS MOVE
THEY LIKE TO WATCH YOUR JAW DROP, TOO
BUT THE WITTICISMS FADE WHEN THE COVERS
ARE UNMADE AND I’M SO FAR AWAY
I BET YOU THOUGHT I’D BE AN EASY LAY
I BET YOU THOUGHT I LIVED ALONE
HUNGRY FOR THE VISION AND THE AFTERPLAY
I’VE HAD BETTER TIMES ALONE
NOW WE RARELY TALK OF LOVE
WE ONLY SPEAK OF NEED
AND THE SACRIFICE OF LIFE TO THE ALTAR
AND THE KNIFE ON OUR MOUND OF GREED
I RARELY CALL JUST TO HEAR YOUR VOICE
SET FREE OF THE PILLARS AND STONE
BUT FOR THE COMPANY I KEEP WHEN I SPEAK
TO YOUR MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
IT’S THE COMPANY I KEEP WHEN I SPEAK
YOUR MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
THE COMPANY I KEEP…
