Why Did I Write the Book of Love

Why did I write the book of love before I knew your name?
Why did I memorize the rules but never play the game?
The news are full of lobbyists and demagogues and populists
And you can be as tough to read but infinitely more rewarding

Why did I write the book of love before I knew your name
Why did I waste such precious time fear-mongering in vain
The universe is full of misplaced privilege and misogyny
But you are both the privilege and the challenge I deserve, I hope

So why are we not enough to save the world, to save ourselves?
And why are we not enough for me?
I'll never get to heaven, never get to hell
I'll never get it right if I can't get out of my own way

Why did I write the book of love before I knew your name?
Why did I go to all that trouble to fan a dying flame?
The truth is compromised by a creeping normality of lies
But you have the distracting touch that gets me to the church on time

So why are we not enough to save the world, to save ourselves?
And why are we not enough for me?
I'll never get to heaven, never get to hell
I'll never get it right if I can't get out of my own way

The truth is hard to reckon with, you fuck with it, it fucks you silly

Why did I write the book of love before I knew your name?
Why did we never meet-cute on the power-walk of shame?
The world is full of tragedies and efforts to desensitize us
Never let me off the hook, just hold me so accountable

Oh why are we not enough to save the world, to save ourselves?
And why are we not enough for me?
I'll never get to heaven, never get to hell
We'll never get it right if we can't get out of our own
Never get to roll our eyes again
Never never get it right if we can't get out of our own
Never get to patronize and polarize
We'll never get it right if we can't get out of our own ass