Up to Me (Take 1)

Everything went from bad to worse

Money never changed a thing

Death kept followin', trackin' us down

At least I heard your bluebird sing

Now somebody's got to show their hand

Time is an enemy

I know you're long gone

I guess it must be up to me

If I'd have thought about it I never woulda done it

I guess I woulda let it slide

If I'd have paid attention to what others were thinkin'

The heart inside me woulda died

I was just too stubborn to ever be governed

By enforced insanity

Someone had to reach for the risin' star

I guess it was up to me

Oh, the Union Central is pullin' out

And the orchids are in bloom

I've only got me one good shirt left

And it smells of stale perfume

In fourteen months I've only smiled once

And I didn't do it consciously

Somebody's got to find your trail

I guess it must be up to me

It was like a revelation when you betrayed me with your touch

I had just about convinced myself

That nothin' had changed that much

The old rounder in the iron mask slipped me the master key

Somebody had to unlock your heart

He said it was up to me

Well, I watched you slowly disappear

Down into the officer's club

I would have followed you in the door

But I didn't have a ticket stub

So I waited all night till the break of day

Hopin' one of us could get free

When the dawn came over the river bridge

I knew it was up to me

Well, the only decent thing I did

When I worked as a postal clerk

Was to haul your picture down off the wall

Near the cage where I used to work

Was I a fool or not to try to protect your identity

You looked a little burned out, my friend

I thought it might be up to me

Well, I met somebody face to face

And I had to remove my hat

She's everything I need and love

But I can't be swayed by that

It frightens me, the awful truth

Of how sweet life can be

But ain't a-gonna make a move

I guess it must be up to me

We heard the sermon on the mount

And I knew it was too complex

It didn't amount to anything more

Than what the broken glass reflects

When you bite off more than you can chew

You pay the penalty

Somebody's got to tell the tale

I guess it must be up to me

Well, Dupree came in pimpin' tonight

To the Thunderbird Cafe

Crystal wanted to talk to him

I had to look the other way

Well, I just can't rest without your love

I need your company

But you ain't a-gonna cross the line

I guess it must be up to me

There's a note left in the bottle

You can give it to Estelle

She's the one you been wonderin' about

But there's really nothin' much to tell

We both heard voices for a while

Now the rest is history

Somebody's got to cry some tears

I guess it must be up to me

So go on, boys, and play your hand

Life is a pantomime

The ring leaders from the county seats

Say you don't have all that much time

And the girl with me behind the shades

She ain't my property

One of us has got to hit the road

I guess it must be up to me

And if we never meet again

Baby, remember me

How my lone guitar played sweet for you

That old time melody

And the harmonica around my neck

I blew it for you free

No one else could play that tune

You knew it was up to me