karaoke kid

your wilting smile fell
on the floor next to all this laundry
signs of disuse (abandon portraits
and all)
it wasn't a lie when i said
i wanted you
but it wasn't the truth
i just wanted my ship to come back to
shore

and i put you on because
well, you matched
and the rest of it was dirty and
old, and sadder
and you wore me out
because
i wasn't who i am.

the truth is that
i wanted you to need me
(to lean on me, even when you
were strong)
and i wanted your smile to be
just for me

i guess that's twisted.

i'd always dreamed of picket fence
lining lives we've led
hero dreams or whatever
strewn about like these clothes,
cast off because
this life is good enough

but i guess i was wrong.
(i fall short
and your smile's too long).