John And Mary - One Step Backward Lyrics

(John Lombardo/Mary Ramsey)

Stars shining through buildings,
I never could see
When I saw you there talk to the world
I was thinking it was me
A foggy grey runaway, pushing into the crowd
Shutters bang in the night, in the wind
Swollen eyes in the dark open wide
Till they see flowers red
Hang with love from the railings,
Maybe fate all along
Flowers grey
Pressed in glass painted cases
One step backward, I never felt so wrong

Summer nights we would travel,
Neon cities aglow
When you'd tell me the music's too loud,
I would smile, 'yes I know...'
Kids would show off their cities,
Be they ever so proud
Just as a precaution at night
Hold your housekeys like penknives
And see through the dark flowers red
Hang with love from the railings,
Maybe fate all along
Flowers grey
Pressed in glass-painted cases
One step backward, I never felt so wrong
Drawing faces of landscapes
Driving home from afar
After calendar pages turned over
To find out where you are
There are times I still see you
Alone on the stairs
Had I known for the asking
When gods choose to punish
It's likely surprise how they answer our prayers