“Flirted With You All My Life” by Vic Chesnutt (from To the Cut)
I am a man.
I am self-aware.
And everywhere I go
You’re always right there with me.
I flirted with you all my life,
Even kissed you once or twice
And to this day I swear it was nice
But clearly I was not ready.
When you touched a friend of mine,
I thought I would lose my mind.
But I found out with time
That really, I was not ready, no, no.
Oh, death. Oh, death.
Oh, death. Really, I’m not ready.
Oh, death, you hector me,
Decimate those dear to me.
You tease me with your sweet relief.
You are cruel and you are constant.
When my mom was cancer-sick,
She fought but then succumbed to it.
But you made her beg for it.
“Lord Jesus, please I’m ready.”
Oh, death. Oh, death.
Oh, death. Really, I’m not ready, no, no.
Oh, death. Oh, death.
Oh, death. Clearly, I’m not ready, no, no.