The Ring From Your Hand - Paul Heaton

When that builder cups his hand to other builder’s ear

It doesn’t happen often: maybe once or twice a year

That compliment from you, my precious dear

Would creep up unexpectedly, then disappear

First time we caught each other’s eye was at the bottle bank

Dropping off three times the amount our partners knew we drank

When did that bottle of plonk turn into walking plank?

When did that Chenin blanc turn to blank?

We took the shine out the sun, blew the clouds out the sky

Took the wind and the rain and the frost

Just inches below us, the river runs dry

And the love that once took us across

The kiss we exchanged that built us a bridge

Has sunk to its knees in the sand

The petals and sticks we dropped from the ridge

Have gone with the ring from your hand

Where’s the passion when we’re both stood in our socks?

When did Marvin’s «Get It On» get put back in the box?

When did being daring begin to shock?

When did wearing miniskirts turn into wearing our frocks?

Who’s the brains in this relationship?

We’re both in red kagoules

How could life be quite so dull with so many golden rules?

Who’s the brains in this relationship when we’re both in red kagoules?

We went and cracked the safe, but lost the jewels

We took the shine out the sun, blew the clouds out the sky

Took the wind and the rain and the frost

Just inches below us, the river runs dry

And the love that once took us across

The kiss we exchanged that built us a bridge

Has sunk to its knees in the sand

The petals and sticks we dropped from the ridge

Have gone with the ring from your hand

Now I look out the window from the end of the bed

And the moon shines so clearly above

Looking down at my children and patting their heads

Whisper, «God luck sure looks after love»

But moonlight through keyhole, starlight through crack

Is all the light we’ll likely see

And till death I depart, or your mummy comes back

No person casts shadow on me

We took the shine out the sun, blew the clouds out the sky

Took the wind and the rain and the frost

Just inches below us, the river runs dry

And the love that once took us across

The kiss we exchanged that built us a bridge

Has sunk to its knees in the sand

The petals and sticks we dropped from the ridge

Have gone with the ring from your hand