Robin Holcomb – When Was The Last Time lyrics

When was the last time
You were the witness to
The blacks of night blurring into blue
And the weird grey light
That washes up and over you
The heavy blanket lifted, strange
And each fresh breath, so soft, feels new
Can you name that place right now
Where the dawn came over you
Or do you feel you live too far
From anywhere wild?

I sent ahead some money so they'd hold me for a room
With a window that can open
Not an easy thing to find here
Uneven snow is falling somewhere in another town
The fat wet flakes so lazy
That they suck up all the sound
Here they're hanging lights and bells for Christmas
Up and down the streets
It used to be a desert here, I know
I tried to go out walking
Ahead the sky was burning
Painted snowflakes on the windows
Snowflakes painted on the schoolyard
And the little bells all ringing, ringing

When you stop or finally start
To take the time to notice
Every child who's wilding
Or tangled in the mountains
Is singing
Running in the shadows
If you get up in the morning
O, catch me if you can
Turn each houseyard to a wild place
The house too big, the house too big
Let each family breathe the sweet air
In the morning
Pale doomsayers on streetcorners
These we shall unbalance
If you get up in the morning
I will look you in the eye

Like many who have gone before
We've moved so many times
I chose a small town from the map
It had the same name a mine
But when we got there, there was just
A pole, a tree, a field, a sign
Followed at slow speed by a patrol car
And there's no passing
Lost towns are dying inside of verdant fields
O, I can show you
Pale ghost signs flapping in the winds
I will drive slowly
How will you recognise
The place of your birth?
O, how many will know
Of your place on this earth?

I am trying to live like I taught my baby
Trying to live like I taught my baby
And I'm going to try to live
Like I learned from my baby

Try to live like I taught my baby
Try to live like I taught my baby
And I'm going to try to live
Like I learned from my baby

The sun comes up
And the world begins
We used to lie there sleeping
Try to live like I taught my baby
Try to live like I taught my baby to
And I'm going to try to live
Like I learned from my baby