John Kander — Gabriels Letter/My First Woman

[GABRIEL] I'm sorry to hear they've taken you away I'm sure you're innocent You're such a good man You must be innocent And I'm sorry if I've never told you how grateful I am For the movies, the talks, and the books The gifts to my wife and newborn child I am truly sorry And finally, I'm sorry for Any pain I may have caused you I know what you wanted of me But I'm just not that way What a strange thing to be sorry for But that's the way it is, isn't it? I'm sorry Simply sorry [VALENTIN] My first woman I remember my first woman Back of a building Me and my friends A couple of pesos There in the gravel Down on her knees What did she look like? Probably plain Who can remember? But to me, she was the keeper of all mystery [GABRIEL] And finally, I'm sorry for Any pain I may have caused you [VALENTIN] My first woman I remember my first woman [GABRIEL] I know what you wanted of me But I'm just not that way [VALENTIN/(GABRIEL)] Back of a building Me and my friends A couple of pesos (I'm sorry) There in the gravel (What a strange thing to be sorry for) Down on her knees What did she look like? Probably plain (But that's the way it is, isn't it?) But to me, she was the keeper of all mystery (I'm sorry, simply sorry) [GABRIEL] Your friend, Gabriel [VALENTIN] Mystery