The Last Thing on my Mind

By Tom Paxton
Rise Up Singing chapter: Love, p.125
Verses: A D A AD / A AE A - ://
Chorus: E - D A / D A E - / A D A - / E - A -

This song is a heart render, I think. Look out for my favourite rhyme: underground, and the saddest line: Please don't go. I know that doesn't sound original enough to be an especially sad line, but it's all in the context, I feel. There's a contrast with the preceding line that makes it just painfully hopeless.

It's a lesson too late for the learning
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turning
In your hand, in your hand

Chorus:
Are you going away with no word of farewell
Will there be not a trace left behind
Well I could have loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
You know that was the last thing on my mind

As we walk, all my thoughts are a-tumbling
Round and round, round and round
Underneath our feet the subway's rumbling
Underground, underground

You've got reasons a-plenty for going
This I know, this I know
For the weeds have been steadily growing
Please don't go, please don't go

As I lie in my bed in the morning
Without you, without you
Each song in my heart dies a-borning
Without you, without you