Men and women again–by god, it’s practically a theme. The title phrase just stuck in my head one day, and I immediately had the idea to write a song from both his and her perspectives–from the giddiness of a new relationship to the point when each person finds themselves longing for how it used to be so long ago. So many people ride this roller coaster–sometimes it’s scary and sometimes it’s fun. I guess the trick is to remember that it’s just one more ride at the amusement park.

Structurally this song is a bit unusual–chorus, verse 1, verse 2, bridge, and then a slight variation of the chorus. I know I broke some basic songwriting rules with this approach, but my intentions were good, Your Honor, really they were. I think it’s good to break the rules once in a while. Rob Harmon suggested the hold on the word chill, which I think was an excellent suggestion–thanks again, Rob. Another spare arrangement–nothing fancy here. The guitar is pushed along by the bass, and the percussion on the backbeat also helps it move along.

For better, for worse are the words that we use
when two lives are tied up like a bow
But ribbons unravel sometimes when hearts travel

to places they’d rather not go

She glows at the promise of an autumn romance
In the light of the  late summer sun
Like a moth to a flame he is drawn to her essence

Consumed as the two become one

But the hourglass sandbox – it trickles away
And those looks and  the laughter get lost
She searches for reasons in the changing of seasons

And the chill of the oncoming frost

For better, for worse are the words that she said
And their meaning  gets lost now and then
In both good times and bad she wants what they had

When things started, so long ago when

He dreams of her kisses, dives into her eyes
And believes in love  stronger than stone
The sound of his name on her lips drives him further

Than anything he’s ever known

But the hourglass sandbox – it trickles away
And the times in between them grow few
Until hard words get spoken–the feeling gets  broken
And he wonders if love can be true

For better, for worse are the words that he said
and he thinks of them now and again
He wonders if they’re for naught – those dreams that  they bought
When things started, so long ago when

The laugh of a child
The times of their lives
So happy and  sad are these husbands and wives

For better, for worse are the words that we use  when two lives are  tied up like a bow
But ribbons unravel sometimes when hearts travel to places where they need to go