Folklore Medley: Exile / Cardigan / August / My Tears Ricochet - Lauren Cimorelli

We gather here, we line up

Weeping in a sunlit room

And if I’m on fire

You’ll be made of ashes too

Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe

All the hell you gave me?

'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you

Till my dying day

I didn’t have it in myself to go with grace

And you’re the hero flying around, saving face

And if I’m dead to you, why are you at the wake?

Cursing my name, wishing I stayed, look at how my tears ricochet

I can see you staring, honey

Like he’s just your understudy

Like you’d get your knuckles bloody for me

Second, third, and hundredth chances

Balancing on breaking branches

Those eyes add insult to injury

I think I’ve seen this film before

And I didn’t like the ending

I’m not your problem anymore

So who am I offending now?

You were my crown

Now I’m in exile, seeing you out

I think I’ve seen this film before

So I’m leaving out the side door

Just step right out, there is no amount

Of crying I can do for

All this time

I never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind)

I couldn’t turn things around (you never turned things around)

'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

Salt air, and the rust on your door

I never needed anything more

Whispers of «Are you sure?»

«Never have I ever before»

But I can see us lost in the memory

August slipped away

Like a moment in time

'Cause it was never mine

But I can see us lost in the memory

August slipped away

Like a bottle of wine

'Cause you were never mine

But I knew you

Leaving like a father

Running like water, oh

When you are young

They assume you know nothing

But I knew you’d linger like a tattoo kiss

I knew you’d haunt all of my what-ifs

The smell of smoke would hang around this long

'Cause I knew everything when I was young

I knew I’d curse you for the longest time

Chasing shadows in the grocery line

I knew you’d miss me once the thrill expired

And you’d be standing in my front porch light

I knew you’d come back to me

I knew you’d come back… to me