Refuge

(every time you go away)
 
Retreating, recreating,
what you’re fighting
Taking in breaths, 

lids down, no ceiling
how could this be?
who you crave, but do not know
moving soft, moving slow
No fingers through the last track.

Blurred projection,

mouth full of cotton
Reluctant to make such confessions,
it stays sitting in the back of your teeth.
legs pull you forwards through the days,
but thoughts always back to-
A cigarette outside, satellite, 

33 rpm, low-back pain, 

sick of yourself when you

can't find the right thing to silence your chest

You never weary of routine

and pastoral scenes, 
won’t ever leave and so you think, 
how I’d have to come to you.
Barefoot, wood heat, you replay,

those 4 min 10 seconds 

on repeat, 
singing the same thing,
Can’t you see we’ve got everything?
Until back in the refuge, 
simple room, when you're alone, 

you bring me back to life.
Make me good, make me slow.
Whatever you are unsure of, 

don’t let it be me.
Even if it's years from now,
Hoping you read in between,  

put out a sign, so I’ll know-
play it soft, play it slow
Every time you go away
I can’t go on sayin' the same thing
But I’ll sing it with you
I'll come soft, I'll come slow

From the book, 'I can't play where I'm not supposed to' 2015
Paul Young, Every time you go away 1985