Anaïs Mitchell
Deliberately
You and I were walking on the avenue
It was cold and we were old friends then
Talking at each other
You asked me how I’d been and I could not complain
I just put one foot before the other
We got where we were going
And we drank a little wine
And I forgot I had ever moved away
Cause Jason stayed played jazz guitar
Boston still out-shown the stars
And the first snow fell the very next day
And I guess it’s a little late
But I been thinking on it
Ever since you asked me
And I say I’m doing fine
Just I can’t recall
I did anything deliberately
Deliberately

You and I were fearless in the wintertime
Waking up at dawn
Everything was frozen
The shadows on the wall in the dark
People breathing in the park
The cars, all those things were ours
Because we chose them
And we got up out of bed those days
With all the strength that keeps a body warm
That keeps a language spoken
And I’m calling on those mornings now
I’m calling you to ask you how
You hang on to a spirit
So it doesn’t end up broken
When the days are breaking hard
And the nights are falling easy
And you say you’re doing fine
Just you can’t recall the last time
You did anything deliberately
Deliberately
I don’t have the strength today to bend the rules
I think school is getting to my head
Cause I just put one foot before the other out the door
And then I’m happy when it brings me back to bed
And I can see the paper trail
Laid out straight and narrow
And you put your best foot forward there
And you follow all the arrows
And maybe you will get somewhere
But what I’d like to know is
Why should anybody care
If we decide we won’t go
No

And I guess it’s a little late
But I been thinking on it
Ever since you asked me
Cause me I’m doing fine
Just I can’t recall the last time
I did anything deliberately
Deliberately
Deliberately