Seth Avett - The Poet Game Lyrics

[Verse 1]Down by the river junior yearWalking with my girlAnd we came upon a placeThere in the tall grass where a coupleHad been making loveAnd left the mark of their embraceI said to her, "Looks like they had some fun"She said to me, "Let's do the same"And still, I taste her kissesAnd her freckles in the sunWhen I play the poet game[Verse 2]A young man down in the hill countryIn the year of '22He went to meet his future brideShe lived in a rough old shackThat poverty blew throughAnd she invited him insideShe'd been cooking, ashamed and feeling sadShe could only offer him bread and her nameGrandpa said that was the best giftA fella ever hadAnd he taught me the poet game[Verse 3]I had a friend who drank too muchAnd played too much guitarOh, and we sure got alongReel-to-reels were rolled acrossThe country near and farWith letters poems and songsBut these days he won't talk to meAnd he won't tell me whyI miss him every time I say his nameI don't know what he's doingOr why our friendship diedWhile we played the poet game[Instumental Break][Verse 4]The fall rain was pounding downOn an old New Hampshire millAnd the river wild and highI was talking to her while leaves blew downLike a sudden chillAnd there was wildness in her eyesWe made love like we'd been waitingAll of our lives for thisAnd strangers know no shameBut she had to leave at dawnAnd with a sticky farewell kissLeft me to play the poet game[Verse 5]I watched my country turn intoA coast-to-coast strip mallAnd I cried out in songIf they could do all that in thirty yearsThen please tell me you allWhy does good change take so long?Why does the color of your skinOr who you choose to loveStill lead to such anger and pain?And why do I think it's any helpTo still dream ofPlaying the poet game?[Verse 6]Sirens wail above the fieldsAnother soul gone downAnother sun about to riseI've lost track of my mistakesLike birds that fly aroundAnd darken half my skiesTo all of those I've hurtWell, I pray you will forgive meI for you will freely do the sameSo many things I didn't seeWith my eyes turned insidePlaying the poet game[Verse 7]I walk out at night to take a leakUnderneath the starsOh yeah that's the life for meThere's Orion and the PleiadesAnd I guess that must be MarsAll as clear as we long to beI've sung what I was givenSome was bad and some was goodI never did know from where it cameAnd if I had it all to do againI am not sure I wouldPlay the poet game