Affair on 8th Avenue

gordon lightfoot

the perfume that she wore was from some little store
on the down side of town
but it lingered on long after she'd gone
I remember it well
and our fingers entwined like ribbons of light
and we came through a doorway somewhere in the night

her long flowing hair came softly undone
and it lay all around
and she brushed it down as I stood by her side
in the warmth of her love
and she showed me her treasures of paper and tin
and then we played a game only she could win
and she told me a riddle I'll never forget
then left with the answer I've never found yet

"how long" said she "can a moment like this
belong to someone
What's wrong ? what is right ? when to live or to die ?
we must almost be born
so if you should ask me what secrets I hide
I'm only your lover • don't make me decide"

the perfume that she wore was from some little store
on the down side of town
but it lingered on long after she'd gone
I remember it well
and she showed me her treasures of paper and tin
and then we played a game only she could win
and our fingers entwined like ribbons of light
and we came through a doorway somewhere in the night