Roadwork On The 818.

You came in and sideswiped me today
unawares and yet I knew it was coming 
I knew to prepare for the day you’d come in and
take potshots at my knees and bring me down
because you said everything was okay
but it wasn’t, not on the inside

i knew this, i knew this

i wanted you to say things were not fine, but it’d be all right
that you weren’t angry, just miffed or bemused.
no, no. once is enough. you told me.

all these things you brought against me
all these charges you’ve filed
straight from left field in the palm of your hand
to my cheek

i knew this, i knew this

i’ve got to find the words to inform you
not upset you or beguile you
that you can’t come in and exclaim i’m the most
precious china doll you’ve ever seen
and simultaneously turn around and say
i’m the most out of touch with reality.

i am the honest one here, I’ve told you everything
there isn’t anything that wasn’t put on the table
for you, no secret walled gardens. 
i am the manual, plain english.
yet you came in from left field in the palm of your hand
straight to my cheek.

i knew this, i knew this.