Ralph McTell — Bicker and Rue

Old lovers held by a chain Its links to the past hardly bearing the strain Of the weakness to break it and start out again They're held by a chain Old lovers, they bicker and rue Bottled up secrets shared between two Twisting the knife and turning the screw Old lovers, they bicker and rue Old lovers, they know where it hurts Stirring the mud, dishing the dirt Kicking the bruise and tugging the shirt Old lovers, they know where it hurts Old lovers pretend they don't care If she straightens his eyebrow he moves from the chair But whilst she is sleeping he touches her hair Oh, they pretend they don't care Old lovers, they're living a sham Take it or leave it, they don't give a damn Wake with a start at a car door's slam They do give a damn, give a damn Old lovers have storm before calm Mix comfort and fear like the twenty-third psalm Walking the valley of death arm in arm Old lovers have storm before calm Old lovers, they won't venture far Freedom's a draught from a door left ajar Wrapped in her breathing he stares at the stars Old lovers won't go very far Old lovers rejoice and they grieve The warp and the weft both parts of the weave The rough tweed jacket with a silk lined sleeve Old lovers rejoice and they grieve Old lovers, they bare it and grin And the tide's going out and they sigh and breathe in The three-legged race that no one can win They bare it and grin Old lovers, they fuss and they fight They scratch and they spit, warring into the night Then they reach for each other, turn out the light Old lovers, they fuss and they fight Then they turn out the light