Rather Be

I'm tired of broken street glass
Not gettin' no ass...
Unless the baby's sleep
But even then it seems like we're tryin' to creep...

5:30 AM

He hears the alarm go off - another day - another dead end. He listens to her breathe - he wants to reach out to her - touch her...but he lays frozen in place. Everything seems so complicated now...life.

The years he looked forward to with her from the day they took their vows now feel almost like a sentence...life.

Tired of payin' taxes,
sendin' e-mails and faxes
Tired of crooked cops
Tired of black folk complainin' that crime don't stop...

He thinks about the things he needs to do today. They're all depending upon him - his wife, his newborn - his son. He closes his eyes...

I wanna go to a place where lovers go
Do the things that lovers do
No stress... A sweet caress from me to you...
I wanna do the things we used to do
Say the things we used to say
Just lay...everyday, all day

He remembers how back in the old days they used to call in sick sometimes for no reason at all. The alarm would go off at 5:30 and they'd open one sleepy eye and snuggle closer.

Far away from here
Far away from here
Far away from here
Just jump in a taxi cab, pack our bag and get away fast

Far away from here
Far away from here
Far away from here
Just jump in a taxi cab, pack our bag and get away fast

Now they roll out of bed each morning, sluggishly attending to their own separate routines. Where had they gone wrong?

Tired of late subway trains
Tired of undeserved fame
Tired of watchin' somethin' on the T.V. doin' nothin'

5:30 AM

She feels him move beside her. She wants to roll over and snuggle into him - bury herself in his scent, but she feels sad. She used to wake up in his arms - now they sleep on separate ends of the mattress. She doesn't know when that began.

Maybe it's the stress of their new family - unexpected financial burdens - unresolved issues between he and she. Still, she misses the comfort of his scent.

I'd rather be lookin' at ya
I'd rather be layin' with ya
I don't wanna forget
All the love we captured the day we met...

She remembers how he used to look at her - how he used to smile unexpectedly in her direction - for no reason other than she was there. She wishes he didn't have to leave for work so soon, but she doesn't move because she doesn't want them to be late.

I wanna go to a place where lovers go
Do the things that lovers do
No stress... A sweet caress from me to you
I wanna do the things we used to do
Say the things we used to say
Just lay...everyday, all day

She remembers how those "sick" days were like a vacation for the two of them. They'd lie in bed together, insulated from the world. Sleeping, sexing and sleeping some more. They'd re-enter the "real world" the next day rejuvenated and ready to tackle their next challenge together.

Where had they gone wrong?

Far away from here
Far away from here
Far away from here
Just jump in a taxi cab, pack our bag and get away fast

Far away from here
Far away from here
Far away from here

Just jump in a taxi cab, pack our bag and get away fast...

5:45 AM

He and she turn towards one another and whisper simultaneously, "You wanna call in?"

Muzikal inspiration courtesy of Kindred The Family Soul (Far Away)