Autumn's ashes, summer's embers
On the sidewalk come September
And suddenly I can't remember
Any lessons learned
Now that I'm a migrant picker
Trouble-minded tin-can kicker
I wish my skin was thicker
The air has turned

I can live alone I said
I can make my lonesome bed
I don't need a hole in my head
I don't need a lover
But he took me by surprise
I fell down and saw him rise
Till he was larger in my eyes
Than any other
How suddenly the summer died
I couldn't bring it back to life
I couldn't sing it back to life
But I tried

Came to him in summer clothing
Came to him because I chose him
Came to find his fingers frozen
And he would not reach for me
Came to him for his sweet song
Came to him for right or wrong
Came to find his heart belonged
To one who came before me
How suddenly the sweetness died
I couldn't bring it back to life
I couldn't sing it back to life
But I tried

Autumn's ashes, summer's embers
On the sidewalk come September
Suddenly I can't remember
Any lessons learned
Now that I'm a migrant picker
Trouble-minded tin-can kicker
I wish my skin was thicker
The air has turned