He Must Have Been Eighteen lyrics

I think he must have been eighteen.

He was as fragile as a dream,

Strong as a man.

Seeing the summer in his eyes,

I felt my autumn as it flies

Like grains of sand.

I added make-up to my face,

As if to cover some disgrace;

I saw him smiling.

Rainbows and colours of the spring,

I would have given anything

To win his loving.

I think he must have been eighteen,

A movie star on any screen,

It made him careless.

He never said a word of love,

He thought that speaking about love

Was only worthless.

And then as if the line were new,

He simply whispered, ‘I want you

Let’s stay together.’

We drifted slowly through the night,

I never knew a love more right,

Not since, not ever.

I think he must have been eighteen,

It made him vain and almost mean;

His looks abusing.

Without a word he slowly dressed

Leaving me to my loneliness,

My share of losing.

I could have tried to make him mine,

I let him go without a sign;

My face was lying.

He said, ‘I am not the kind to fall

Love is for grown-ups after all.’

I felt like crying.

I added make-up to my face,

As if to cover some disgrace;

I saw him smiling.

I had forgotten in a dream

That I was almost twice eighteen.