Shelter
Tom D. Waters Lyrics

So we'd talk about the weight of every passing year
We would discuss and contemplate the significance and impact of each year that goes by

Like cutting ribbons all 5th period
With the same ease as cutting ribbons during our fifth period, we would engage in these conversations

I remember standing in the Sam Sacristy doorway
I have a vivid memory of standing in the doorway of the Sam Sacristy

And all our friends were here
All of our friends were present and accounted for in that moment

And we'd roll up our skirts past the knee
We would boldly and defiantly roll up our skirts above the knee

We didn't care what Sister Carmelisa said
The opinions and instructions of Sister Carmelisa held no significance or influence over us

We were outta there in June
We eagerly awaited the arrival of June so that we could finally leave that place

C'est la vie
Such is life; that's just how things are

And we defined words like apathy
We took it upon ourselves to create and establish the meanings of words like apathy

And we defined words like intimacy
Similarly, we also took on the task of defining words like intimacy

And walked through the halls and through the world
We confidently navigated both the school halls and the world beyond

The only way we knew how to be
We simply lived and existed in the only way we knew how

Said I could dance, I could sing
I proclaimed that I possessed the ability to dance and sing

Counting 1, 2, 3
Rhythmically counting out the numbers 1, 2, 3

And see a blanket from my room if I tried
If I made the effort, I could catch a glimpse of a blanket from my room

Ashes left unclaimed
Unexpected remnants or remains that have been abandoned or disregarded

Portraits from memory
Vivid images or memories captured in the form of portraits

Then after graduation we were crazy from the heat
Following graduation, we were overwhelmed and consumed by the intensity of the situation or circumstances

No more shouting across the river
We no longer had to yell or call out to each other from opposite sides of the river

No more lying in the street
Our days of reclining or resting on the street were now over

And the kids said
The younger individuals or peers expressed

Pick up the beat, pick up the beat
Enhance the rhythm and pace, increase the energy or excitement

Hide your sadness and tap your feet
Conceal your feelings of sadness and instead focus on rhythmic foot movements

So we'd sing sing for our supper
To provide for ourselves, we would sing with great enthusiasm and commitment

And pass the hat around
We would collect money or contributions by passing a hat or container

Oh, baby don't you leave me
I plead for you, my dear, to not abandon or desert me

Don't leave me now
Please stay with me in this moment; don't depart at this time

I was lonely when I was lost
Even in moments of being lost or uncertain, I experienced a deep sense of loneliness

And just as lonely when I was found
Ironically, even upon being found or embraced, the feeling of loneliness persisted

And I could dream of you in Garden City
I would envision or imagine you in the setting of Garden City

And I could swear by old Saint Jude
Without a doubt, I could make a solemn oath based on the authority or intercession of Saint Jude

Who asked Jesus why he revealed himself to him
Saint Jude once questioned why Jesus chose to make himself known to him specifically

And not to a lover in a different room
Rather than appearing or revealing himself to a lover in a separate room or location

Once I had his body
At one point, I possessed or had physical intimacy with him

Now there's just his face
Now, all that remains is the image or memory of his face

In a folder hidden on a hard drive
Contained within a hidden folder on a computer hard drive

Frozen in a dozen shapes
The image or representation of him is captured and preserved in various frozen or fixed positions

And when the recession hit
During the time of economic recession

We'd go out on weeknights cause we could
We took advantage of the opportunity to go out on weeknights because it was feasible or possible to do so

I met a dancer called Honey Child
I encountered and made the acquaintance of a dancer who went by the name Honey Child

She told me I'd never lose a soul
She assured me that I would never lose or forfeit my soul

As long as I'm alive
While I remain alive and breathing

But by the third month I spent all my combat pay
By the third month, I had exhausted all the money I received for combat service

And called out to you into that Bedstuy night
I shouted or called your name into the night in the neighborhood of Bedstuy

And just like that, after vespers
In a sudden and unexpected manner, after the evening prayer service

I returned to my mistakes
I returned to or resumed making the same errors or poor choices as before

And then I sold my body and my Gibson SG
Subsequently, I resorted to selling not only my physical being but also my musical instrument, the Gibson SG

Then my Hot Rod Deluxe
Following that, I sold my Hot Rod Deluxe amplifier

It was too heavy carrying it from gig to gig anyway
Moreover, it was burdensome and cumbersome to transport it from one musical performance to another

But there were blackberries on the hood
However, there were blackberries present on the surface of the car's hood

And on the roof of my love
Similarly, blackberries were also found on the top of my beloved person's dwelling or metaphorically representing their essence

Said I'll keep my hands to myself this time
I proclaimed that I would refrain from physically engaging or touching others during this particular instance

There's not a star in Suffolk County
Suffolk County is devoid of stars, symbolizing a lack of hope or something to aspire to

And nothing to wish for if there was
Even if there were stars present, there would be no desires or aspirations to attach them to

Now the ferry leaves every half hour
Presently, the ferry departs every thirty minutes

I said all that I had to say
I have expressed and communicated everything that needed to be conveyed

I don't have a place on Shelter Island
I do not possess a designated space or residence on Shelter Island

I'm just here for the day
My presence on Shelter Island is only temporary, limited to the duration of a single day