Voicemail For Jill

(album: There Will Be No Intermission - 2019)

Jill it's Amanda just waving from London
I know that you're going tomorrow, the hardest decision
And I've been on the side of the phone for a month
And I know you're in hell and you know that I know what you're feeling

Life's such a bitch, isn't it?
When you have a baby, they throw you a party
And then when you die they get together for a cry

But no one's gonna celebrate you
No one's gonna bring you cake
And no one's gonna shower you with flowers
The doctor won't congratulate you
No one on that pavement's gonna
Shout at you that your heart also matters

I'm not sure that you'll get this in time
I don't know if you're checking your voicemail at all
But in case it's the morning
And you're off at the green line and walking through Copley
I want you to stop for a second, I want you to listen
You don't need to offer the right explanation
You don't need to beg for redemption or ask for forgiveness
And you don't need a court room inside of your head
Where you're acting as judge and accused and defendant and witness

It's a strange grief but it's grief
Look at all the women in the street
You know the statistics, Jill
Even though they may not help
Isn't it amazing
How we can never tell
Who is in an identical hell

No one's gonna celebrate you
No one's gonna bring you cake
And no one's gonna shower you with flowers
The doctor won't congratulate you
No one on that pavement's gonna
Shout at you that your heart also matters

No one's gonna compliment you
No one's gonna nod their head
And wink in league with what you are pursuing
No one's gonna tie surprise balloons
Onto your desk at work
And no one's gonna ask you how you're doing

But I'll be back in Boston by next Thursday
Why don't I come over?
I can bring some friends if you want us to come
We can bring you cake and we can bring you flowers
We can bring you wine and we can talk for hours
Ukulele by request
We'll throw you the best
Abortion shower