My relationship with Carolyn had a cyclical component that mimicked in micro form my general experience of relationships. I was quite taken while writing this with exploiting that image, and with the notion that there was a cerebral path to liberating myself from the circularity of it all. I’ve learned better since.
Lyrics
Mind Over Matter
If I sing my song for her right now
Chances are good that she will never hear it
But I find I’m singing it anyhow
As if it could revive my broken spirit
I must admit I’m lost completely
As once more I read these lyrics through
And they stare back at me and ask discreetly
Who’s writing who
I have loved before and lost, of course
I guess the lesson didn’t last too long
As in the wake of that mistake
I probably wrote this very song
(Cho) I remember this place
And the times that we sat here
Each of us trying to keep what we had here
And still be free
It was just a case
Of mind over matter
And if she don’t mind
It won’t matter much to me
I’ve often claimed to be without blame
Ain’t it a shame that claim I can’t live up to
Repressed frustrations and self‑disdain
These in the main are what I plain give up to
Don’t wake me, mother
This dream is so very deep
And it’s easy to be honest
When you’re fast asleep
This dream I’m dreaming
Is nearly at an end
Just want to see if it takes me
Back to the spot where I began
(cho)
I guess the truth has eluded me
What’s left I see gets lost in the confusion
The past is camouflaged cleverly
In the debris of my worn out illusions
And though it seems so senseless
To continue in this same old way
So defensive that I am defenseless
Come what may
When love comes again I won’t refuse it
Lest I lose the chance to make amends
Stumbling through, just making do
Until I realize where I am
(cho)