“(I’ll Never Be) Your Maggie May”

I’ll never be your Maggie May
The one you loved and left behind
The face you see in light of day
And then you cast away

That isn’t me in that bed you’ll find
I’d rather take myself away
Be like those ladies in Japan
Rather paint myself a face
Conjure up some grace
Or be the eyes behind a fan

And so you go
No girl could say no
To you

There’s the way we may appear
But that will change from day to night
Would you ever see within?
Underneath the skin?
Could I believe you had that sight?

And so you go
No girl could say no
To you

I’ll never be your Maggie May
The one you loved and then forgot
I’ll love you first and let you go
Because it must be so
And you’ll forgive or you will not

And so a woman leaves a man
And so a world turns on it’s end
So I’ll see your face in dreams
Where nothing’s what it seems
Still you appear some kind of friend

— Written by Suzanne Vega. Appears on the album Songs In Red and Gray.