Conversation Piece (Written 1969, Recorded 1970, 2002 Re-Recording)

[Verse 1] I took this walk to ease my mind To find out what's gnawing at me And wouldn't think to look at me That I've spent a lot of time in education All seems so long ago I'm a thinker, not a talker I've no-one to talk to, anyway [Refrain] I can't see the road For the rain in my eyes [Verse 2] I live above the grocer's store Owned by an Austrian He often calls me down to eat And he jokes about his broken English Tries to be a friend to me But for all my years of reading conversation I stand without a word to say [Refrain] I can't see the bridge For the rain in my eyes [Bridge] And the world is full of life Full of folk who don't know me And they walk in twos or threes or more [Verse 3] While the light that shines above the grocer's store Investigates my face so rudely And my essays lying scattered on the floor Fulfill their needs just by being there And my hands shake, my head hurts My voice sticks inside my throat I'm invisible and dumb and no one will recall me [Refrain] And I can't see the water Through the tears in my eyes