Enough Rope/Ballade of Big Plans
Ballade of Big Plans
She loved him. He knew it. And love was a game that two could play at.—“Julia Cane,” p. 280.
ONCE the orioles sang in chorus,Once the skies were a cloudless blue.Spring bore blossoms expressly for us,Stars lined up to spell “Y-O-U.”All the world wore a golden hue,Life was a thing to be bold and gay at;Love was the only game I knew,And love is a game that two can play at.
Now the heavens are scowling o’er us,Now the blossoms are pale and few.Love was a rose with thorns that tore us,Love was a ship without a crew.Love is untender, and love is untrue,Love is a moon for a dog to bay at,Love is the Lady-That’s-Known-as-Lou,And love is a game that two can play at.
Recollections can only bore us;Now it’s over, and now it’s through.Our day is dead as a dinosaurus.Other the paths that you pursue.What is the girl in the case to do?What is she going to spend her day at?Fun demands, at a minimum, two—And love is a game that two can play at.
L’ENVOI:Prince, I’m packing away the rue. I’ll give them something to shout “Hooray” at.I’ve got somebody else in view: And love is a game that two can play at.