The Ribs Of a Broken Umbrella

She was only just a girl in a picture
But he thought if I could only make her smile
Then she'd be mine
He'd fooled it, re-folded it so many times
He'd already lost some of her to the creases
Precious pieces
He wondered how close he's ever been to her
In this ebb and flow of the distance between us
Maybe she got the same bus
And he left a trail of string wherever he went
When he was sleepin', he tied it to his toe
If she crossed it, then he'd know

But he knew
That all was unravelling
And he was bare
Stripped of his skin
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
Sticking out of a bin

He'd pull his collar up against the wind
Against those who said that trying was the first step to failing
Oh, he was railing
And filled with newfound purpose and pride
He'd make something of this heady glow
Now where would she go?

But what do I know
Cos all is unravelling
And he was bare
Stripped of his skin
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
Sticking out of a bin

But he knew how to fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza
With time's great elixir, dear Liza, dear Liza

She was only just a girl in a picture
But he thought if I could only make her smile
Then she'd be mine
Oh, the thought of being faced with her
Gave him the fear and sometimes in the morning a tent
Oh, Lord, give him strength

Cos he knew
That all was unravelling
And he was bare
Stripped of his skin
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
Sticking out of a bin