Return To Yesterday - The Lilac Time

It was the day before the day before yesterday

When we thought everything would now go our way

We inherited a fortune of innocence

And they took it all away

We travel on the last bus from sanity

Through province town to cities of obscurity

And some way down the road it occurs to me That I might have missed my stop

But I will not return to yesterday

Or smooth out the human clay

We’ll face this new England like we always have

In a fury of denial

We’ll go out dancing on the tiles

Help me down, but don’t take me back

I heard a lover calling to Saint Anthony

Sadly treating love like her property

Only battles can be lost and so it seems we do But I’m hoping for a change

I left you at the bus stop in working town

Now the service has been cut, re-named slumberdown

I can see you on the bars of your brother’s bicycle

Now I hope you’re not alone

But I will not return to yesterday

Or smooth out the human clay

We’ll face this new England like we always have

In a fury of denial

We’ll go out dancing on the tiles

Help me down, but don’t take me back

And all the politician creeps

I know they want them back

And the couturier weeps

She knows they won’t come back

And the lovers who seldom speak

I know they want them back

And me falling back into your half term kisses

No, I will not return to yesterday

Or smooth out the human clay

We’ll face this new England like we always have

In a fury of denial

We’ll go out dancing on the tiles

Help me down, but don’t take me back