WHATEVER, WHATEVER

that’s just the way it goes:
you’re not supposed to cry at all
welcome to the nineties, the real world—
that’s just the way it is:
i turned around; where did you go?
quarter past yesterday, and you were just some girl
that i knew that i’d know, but the time was never right;
it may be a cliché, but it says just what i want to say:

whatver whatever—
it’s the way we’re made to feel
i never say never, but the world “says boy, get real:
get real and compromise; get real; it’s never gonna be”
whatever, whatever...yeah, whatever

i guess i’ll sentence myself to living in this world
just cut my hair, suit and tie—i just might—
keep telling myself there’s no terms like somebody else’s:
settle down, boy, play by the rules and you’ll have a happy…
or maybe i’ll start going to church again,
‘cause some say somebody’s got a plan up there,
but a plan, seems to me, is never gonna change much
and what is meant will happen,
and what is not will never be

things are the way they are ‘cause of the way those things have been
cancelled my one o’clock, although i had my doubts

i had that dream again: a street of houses without doors
except for yours—and why, i never found out

your lips don’t say a word, it’s just your eyes that sometimes smile—
and silly me, waiting for something; i’ll be waiting for a while

whatever, whatever—
this feeling will pass;
ten years from now i’ll lay awake at night and think:
what the hell did i do wrong? am i ever gonna get it right?
whatever, whatever;
goodnight.

• patrickfoster.com music/lyrics © 1/20/1995