WHATEVER COMES CLOSEST

IN 1986 SHE LOST HER INNOCENCE
WITH 4 BEERS ON HER BREATH AND HER PARENTS DOWN THE HALL
SHE HAD A HIPPIE PHASE THAT LASTED THRU HER COLLEGE DAYS
SHE'LL SING NEIL YOUNG WHEN SHE'S LYING ON HER BACK
SHE SAYS SHE USED TO PLAY GUITAR THEN SHE LAUGHS

SHE LOOKS GOOD FROM A DISTANCE
BUT UP CLOSE SLIGHTLY MISSES
LIKE A FIRST GLANCE FULL OF WISHES ON A FALLEN STAR
IN THE MIDDLE FITS HER BILL,
IF THERE'S A TRAIN TO JUMP SHE PROBABLY WILL
SHE CHAIN SMOKES MARLBORO FILTERS
WHEN SHE'S TALKING ON THE PHONE
AND SHE NEVER REALLY HAS LIKED LIVING ALONE

SHE SAYS, WHATEVER COMES CLOSEST YOU SEE
YOU'LL NEVER LAND ALL YOUR DREAMS
SO CUT YOUR LOSSES AND BREATHE
WHATEVER COMES CLOSEST
WHATEVER COMES CLOSEST YOU'LL SEE
YOU'RE FAR AWAY FROM 15
I KNOW HE'S NOT THE NEXT JAMES DEAN
BUT WHATEVER COMES CLOSEST, WHATEVER COMES CLOSEST YOU'LL SEE

AND WHEN SHE FIRST MET HIM
HE WAS TWICE DIVORCED & HIS HAIR WAS THIN
BUT HOW HE MADE HER LAUGH
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT COUNTS
THE FIRST YEARS THINGS WERE GREAT
THEN SHE PUT ON A LITTLE WEIGHT
AND HE STARTED COMING HOME LATER AND LATER EVERY NIGHT
NOW THAT HE'S GONE THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO FIGHT

NOW SHE'S A GLORIFIED SECRETARY
WHO'S BIGGEST REGRET IS SHE NEVER MARRIED
SHE DON'T STAND OUT IN A CROWD
AND SHE STARES AT HER FEET WHEN SHE WALKS
SHE LIVES WITH A COUPLE CATS
IN A HOUSE THAT GETS A LITTLE MORE SAD
EVERY DAY THAT SHE FORGETS
WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE HER SMILE
AND NOW SHE ONLY GOES OUT ONCE IN A WHILE

music & lyrics by Steven Gullett - copyright 2003