I Can’t Help But Wonder, Elizabeth

My fingers lay silent
On the skin of her conga drum
Half-covered by a black Spanish hat
Which I touch with my thumb

I can hear heavy breathin', my heart's pounding
I knew the moment had come
To do what must be said
And to ask what should be done

And I can't help but wonder how it might have been
I can't help but wonder, Elizabeth

I looked at her quickly
Avoiding her watery eyes
In my awareness of the scene I was playing
Well, I just had to cry

Elizabeth stood silent, draped in defenses
A victim of tongues that had lied
And I'd hope that she'd say something
That would stop me from saying goodbye

And I can't help but wonder how it might have been
I can't help but wonder, Elizabeth

For every word that I poured out
A million more formed in my head
Trying to cover up or bring back to life
Something we both knew was dead

And there we froze motionless like two crystal statuettes
With nothing more between us to be said
Each of us lost in our frayed-collared thoughts
As into the darkness I fled

And I can't help but wonder how it might have been
I can't help but wonder, Elizabeth

Shh
Shh
Shh