Up to Me

Everything went from bad to worse, money never changed a thing

Death kept followin’, trackin’ us down, at least I heard your bluebird sing

Now somebody’s got to show their hand, time is an enemy

I know you’re long gone, I guess it must be up to me

If I’d thought about it I never would’ve done it, I guess I would’ve let it slide

If I’d lived my life by what others were thinkin’, the heart inside me would’ve died

I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity

Someone had to reach for the risin’ star, I guess it was up to me

Oh, the Union Central is pullin’ out and the orchids are in bloom

I’ve only got me one good shirt left and it smells of stale perfume

In fourteen months I’ve only smiled once and I didn’t do it consciously

Somebody’s got to find your trail, I guess it must be up to me

It was like a revelation when you betrayed me with your touch

I’d just about convinced myself that nothin’ had changed that much

The old Rounder in the iron mask slipped me the master key

Somebody had to unlock your heart, he said it was up to me

Well, I watched you slowly disappear down into the officers’ club

I would’ve followed you in the door but I didn’t have a ticket stub

So I waited all night ’til the break of day, hopin’ one of us could get free

When the dawn came over the river bridge, I knew it was up to me

Oh, the only decent thing I did when I worked as a postal clerk

Was to haul your picture down off the wall near the cage where I used to work

Was I a fool or not to try to protect your identity?

You looked a little burned out, my friend, I thought it might be up to me

Well, I met somebody face to face and I had to remove my hat

She’s everything I need and love but I can’t be swayed by that

It frightens me, the awful truth of how sweet life can be

But she ain’t a-gonna make me move, I guess it must be up to me

We heard the Sermon on the Mount and I knew it was too complex

It didn’t amount to anything more than what the broken glass reflects

When you bite off more than you can chew you've got to pay the penalty

Somebody’s got to tell the tale, I guess it must be up to me

Well, Dupree came in pimpin’ tonight to the Thunderbird Café

Crystal wanted to talk to him, I had to look the other way

Well, I just can’t rest without you, love, I need your company

But you ain’t a-gonna cross the line, I guess it must be up to me

There’s a note left in the bottle, you can give it to Estelle

She’s the one you been wond’rin’ about, but there’s really nothin’ much to tell

We both heard voices for a while, now the rest is history

Somebody’s got to cry some tears, I guess it must be up to me

So go on, boys, and play your hands, life is a pantomime

The ringleaders from the county seat say you don’t have all that much time

And the girl with me behind the shades, she ain’t my property

One of us has got to hit the road, I guess it must be up to me

And if we never meet again, baby, remember me

How my lone guitar played sweet for you that old-time melody

And the harmonica around my neck, I blew it for you, free

No one else could play that tune, you know it was up to me.