It’s early in the morning here, before 7:30 am, and everyone else is still asleep. So I’m writing lyrics-only and posting without a tune — for now.

I wanted to write a “fourth of July” song that was not about the holiday.

Collab note: I will eventually set this to music, but anyone else is welcome to take a crack at a melody for it, if it suggests one to you. ❤️❤️

Couldn’t have happened to Two stupider folk Time-blind and unaware So sunk, so deeply, into Small complaints We weren’t quite anywhere.

The only way we knew On a fourth of July Was when the city Lit the sky And neither of us moved

Could be it hides or else Everyone knows You just think you don’t The heart runs laps it’s waiting Will you, will you, Will you won’t

The only way we saw On a fourth of July Was when the smoke Blew by And night forgot to fall

BRIDGE Bright as day, her eyes were blinking code Behind her lids, bright flowers still bloomed And, oh, the air tasted like fire It smelled like everything could be consumed

The only way we heard On a Fourth of July Was when the popping Came like sighs To stop our words

Will you, will you Will you won’t

Will you, will you Will you won’t