Lyrics

Strings He Pulls (Joni Mitchell Style)
© 2024 Michael Hanson Cantwell

(Verse 1)
He's got a velvet touch, soft as a songbird's wing,
Whispering love's old promises in the ear of spring.
I see you sway, girl, like the trees bend in a breeze,
But darling, don't you know, some winds carry disease?
He's got that city glow, neon lights behind his smile,
But under all that shimmer, there's a crocodile.

(Chorus)
Oh, you're tangled up in the threads of his gold,
Thinking his warmth will fend off the cold.
But I see the frays in the seams of his lies,
While you dance in the silk of his blue alibis.
Girl, don't fall for the show, he'll pack up and go,
Leaving you in the shadow of love's afterglow.

(Verse 2)
He's painting sunsets with borrowed hues,
The kind that wash away in the morning dew.
You look at him like he's the only flame,
But I see the wax melting in the game.
I wish I could tear down the veil you wear,
But love is blind, even in the clearest air.

(Chorus)
Oh, you're tangled up in the threads of his gold,
Believing in stories that never get told.
But I see the cracks in the walls he builds,
And the way he's numbing your heart with thrills.
Girl, don't fall for the show, he'll pack up and go,
Leaving you stranded in love's undertow.

(Bridge)
He's like a river running smooth and deep,
But I see the undertow pulling you beneath.
I want to scream and break the dam,
But love's a language I don't think you understand.

Chorus)
Oh, you're tangled up in the threads of his gold,
Believing in stories that never get told.
But I see the cracks in the walls he builds,
And the way he's numbing your heart with thrills.
Girl, don't fall for the show, he'll pack up and go,
Leaving you stranded in love's undertow.

(Outro)
Oh, my heart breaks as you slip away,
In the folds of his world where the light won't stay.
But when the tide turns and you're washed to shore,
I'll be here, though I won't be standing anymore.