Memorial Day
Composer(s): Carly Simon
Performer(s): Carly Simon



It should have been so soft
This morning as we left
But the valley was infected by a different kind of beauty
And the indians, they knew
It was a devil's sanctuary
 
Out of this unholy dawn
A car came stirring up the sand
And a woman from a passion play
Held up the limousine
That brought me all this way today
 
And I didn't need to turn around
So strong was the message
And the man who planned her life
Commanded all that followed
 
Well, they bellowed and they hollered
And they threw each other down
Down in this valley
This cruel and lovely valley
Oh, it should have been an alley
In some low-down part of town
 
As the light came up
There was no sun
And brandy splattered all over the ground
As this woman with her head held high
Yelled "Love!" and "Why, oh why!"
"You're killing me, oh, follow me!"
As I watched safe and clean
From the frosted windows in the limousine
 
Well, they bellowed and they hollered
And they threw each other down
Down in this valley
This cruel and lovely valley
Oh, it should have been an alley
In some low-down part of town
 
Before he'd been so funny
Imagining the best
That he'd escape recrimination
For abandoning the nest
He'd been joking and stoned
While he was entertaining me
But then turned and was stunned
By her panic and her misery
And I was in the getaway car
Giving him a chance to get away
Get away, get away
Get away, get away, get away
 
And how the valley smoked
As he crossed Route 25
With his cymbals and his shattered crown
Leaving all alone
His eyes fixed on the ground
 
And he didn't need to turn around
So strong was the message
And he fell into the shallow sky
And was swallowed
 
Well, they bellowed and they hollered
And they threw each other down
Down in this valley
This cruel and lovely valley
Oh, it should have been an alley
In some low-down part of town