For the Sake of the Song - Townes Van Zandt

Why does she sing her sad songs for me

I'm not the one

Tenderly bring her soft sympathy

I've just begun

To see my way clear

And it's plain

If I stop I will fall

I can lay down a tear for her pain

Just a tear and that's all

What does she want me to do

She says that she knows

That moments are rare

I suppose that it's true

Then on she goes

To say I don't care

Ah she knows

That I do

Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song

Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

She'd like to think I was cruel

But she knows that's a lie

For I would be

No more than a tool

If I allowed her to cry

All over me

Oh my sorrow is real

Even though

I can't change my plan

She could see how I feel

Then I know

She'd understand

Oh does she actually think I'm to blame

Does she really believe

That some word of mine

Could relieve

All her pain

Can't she see that she grieves

Just because she's been blindly deceived

By her shame

Oh be maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song

Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

Oh but nothin's what it seems

Maybe she'll start someday to realize

If she abandons her dreams

Then all the words she can say are only lies

Oh when we she see that to gain

Is only to lose

All that she offers me are her chains

And I got to refuse

Oh but it's only to herself that she's lied

She likes to pretend

There's something that she should defend

With her pride

And I don't intend

Stand her and be the friend

From whom she must hide

Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song

Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

Oh but maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song