Life Without Susanna

Life without Susanna started when Townes Van Zandt died From that day on she hid out undercover Her Percocet and cigarette along for the ride She made the bed inside her head a shelter Each new day a sliver through the blinds I tried tough love, tenderness and anger But nothing pierced the fortress inside her mind The first time I saw her she threw me that smile Pure angel of mercy east Texas style A poet in gingham, an assassin in jeans The most near perfect woman I'd ever seen She was hardly routine Life without Susanna troubles me in ways hard to express As she withdrew I grew distant and judgmental A self-sure bastard and a stubborn bitch Locked in a deadly game of chess The upside of my status as a cut above the rest The last time I saw her was close to the end I cried like a baby for the shape I was in No lipstick, no powder to soften the tone The most worthy opponent that I've ever known Was already gone Life without Susanna is something we all have to face So welcome to the world as we don't know it Big blue knuckleball free floating somewhere out in space Where life without Susanna is no man's saving grace This is life without Susanna and I can't find my place --- Life Without Susanna - Rodney Crowell