There Was John

I was the girl in the bubble at school
Behind my own personal wall for protection
I’d sit there alone like a fool
I never was able to make a connection
Then one day I tried out for the play
I’ll never forget it
A flea in her ear
And I was suddenly someone with something to say
Making a sound everybody could hear
And suddenly everything makes some sense
Then I saw this guy in the audience
And there was John
Fifth row on the aisle
With a big smile on
And after the show he came backstage
And now that this birdie was out of her cage
Well, everything was okay
We date for a year, then we’re cohabitating
Then I get a big chance to take the next step
Away from a job I was hating
And into a slot in the regional rep
In rehearsal all day after day after day
Creating and playing in play after play
And night after night, igniting the spark
Connecting with all of those folk in the dark
And John was there
There with a smile and his hands in the air
Clapping for me and back home we’d go
Happy together for eight or nine hours or so
And everything was okay
And then I’d be gone again
This life takes everything you give it
Like a puppy or a kid
But if you really love it, you live it
And that’s what I did
Played Carousel on the road for the winter
From April to June, I toured Cabaret
Then Mother Courage in stock in New England all summer
And John tried to call almost every day
He told me he wanted some kids and a wife
And that’s when I realized
This is my life
I’d made my choice but I never expressed it
And when I got home
Can you guess?
Yeah, I guessed it
John was gone
Everything on the left of the closet was gone
His electric guitar, and his amp, and his car were gone
Just “poof”
There I was standing under a roof alone
And yes, my heart was almost broken
But I’d made my choice and I’d make it again
And now, where’s John?
I think Portland, Maine or maybe it’s Oregon
With a kid and a wife
And here is me
Another dressing room number one thousand and three
Exactly where I should be
Exactly where we should be
And everything’s okay