Charley stands on the block
In a shoe and one grey sock
I try to care
But that never gets you anywhere
So I sit in this booth
Drinking slow, divining [bad word] And the long, long way to go
To the everlasting no

From her fire escape seat
Miranda guards the street
While on her bed,
newborn baby lays its head
It's a boy it's a girl
It's one more chump against the world
With a long, long way to go
All for that everlasting no

I had breakfast with my father
In a downtown luncheonette
And we sat and eyed each other
With suspicion and regret
Then I walked down to the river
Where the boats would pitch and woo
And the river said "Forgive her”
I could swear it said "Forgive her”
But it wouldn't tell me who

Had no fear, had no doubt
Had this racket all scammed out
real hard case
Then I chanced to look upon your face
It's a gift, it's a curse
Either way, it 's getting worse
But so hard to let it go
To your everlasting no