Anything Could Happen

He was a quiet stranger, hardly said a word
She drifted into danger
Just like a lonesome bird
He said his name was Michael, wasn't up to much
They rode his motorcycle
He couldn't feel her touch
Who knows where the wild wind blows
When the weary sun lies down?
No one in this town

chorus:
I'm thinking 'bout you baby
The way it always was
And anything could happen
But nothing ever does
I'm thinking about you baby
The way it used to be
And anything could happen
But not to you and me

The highway slid beneath them, just like a garter snake
He muttered through his teeth when
He couldn't find the lake
She said her leather jacket
Was left back at the bar
Screamed and made a racket
He said we've gone too far
Who knows why the wild wolf howls
At the first scent of a deer
No one around here

(chorus)

Raindrops on the window
Shadows on the blind
Her hair upon the pillow
Morning on my mind
I fumble for the matches
Light a cigarette
It all comes back in snatches
And I wish I could forget
Who knows why the sunrise glistens on the morning dew?
Nobody but you

(chorus x 2)

This song bridges from my older, Canadiana material to a series of more recent songs that are more about the landscape of the human heart and mind. I'm really fond of the image of the highway like a garter snake, and the whole setting for the song is the swath of Rainbow Country between Parry Sound and the Muskoka Lakes.

I thought this was a love song between awkward, angry, reluctant lovers, and maybe it is. But as I read it now, it could also be vignettes from a murder mystery.

I'm sometimes embarassed by my darker material. I'm sorry to have so many bad spots in my own psyche. I do think that it's an artist's duty to try to get at the truth of things.

Anyway, I love to sing this song, whatever it's about.