From the recording A Salt and Battery

Lyrics

Unforgiving Innocence

How innocent you must have seemed, descending on the little boys
All warm tan and giggles, with your soft, little girl noise
Striding confidently toward fourteen, childhood friends maturing along with you
Abandoning “silly old toys” as young emotions pried into something new

But now where are all your friends?
Where are the kicks in the games you used to play,
Way back then, before the spreading Indian Summer
When they all started looking at you “that way”
And poor little you, with no defense
In the dream realm of unforgiving innocence

How friendly they must have seemed, they couldn’t do enough
Party favors and stolen gifts, subtle declarations of love
Transforming you into the blushing queen, and you, not quite sure what to do
Sexual awakening can be rough, pulling the best and the worst out of you
All at once, all at once

But now where are all your friends?
Where are the kicks in the games you used to play
Way back then, before the spreading Indian Summer
When they all started looking at you “that way”
And poor little you, with no defense
In the dream realm of unforgiving innocence

How haggard you now look, with your distant memories, haunted sleep
Friends in the playground drunkenly chasing you down the street
Alone, you flew across four states, hurt and betrayal confusing you
Thumb out, searching for the innocence that now seems only lost to you

But now where are all your friends?
Where are the kicks in the games you used to play,
Way back then, before the spreading Indian Summer
When they all started looking at you “that way”
And poor little you, with no defense
In the dream realm of unforgiving innocence

© 1981, 2006 Robert M. Shaffer, Stephen D. MacPherson