Lyrics

The school bell rings, the children scream, it's finally arrived
The outstretched arms of summer reach to pull the kids outside
She lies down on a grassy slope and stares up at the clouds
Singing to herself, kicks away her shoes
Holds her feet aloft and studies hard the view
And she sings

I don't know what to do
This summer afternoon
So many possibilities
The world is waiting just for me
Deciding what will be
Have I ever felt so free
I can do anything, I can do anything, I can do anything at all

Now several years have passed, she spends her evenings at the shore
While everyone is sleeping, she is sneaking out the door
She finds him at the arcade, they kiss in the photo booth
As the sun comes up, she sneaks back to her room
Lies there wide awake, thinking of his touch
And she sings

I don't know what to do
This summer afternoon
So many possibilities
The world is waiting just for me
Deciding what will be
Have I ever felt so free
I can do anything, I can do anything, I can do anything at all
Soon one by one life's day to day realities intrude
To push aside her hopes and blind an optimistic view
She breaks down from a truth much too painful to conceal
Life's a cruel game, shining golden ring, dangles out of reach and bleeds you of your youth
And she cries

I don't know what to do
This summer afternoon
It's a lesson in futility
The world has run away from me
Tells me what will be
Have I ever felt free
I can't do anything, I can't do anything, I can't do anything at all

Many years go by
Good, bad and better times
Fills her pockets with memories
Now she lives all alone
Sits by the telephone
Wishing someone would call her
Maybe write her a letter
So she talks to herself to keep silence at bay
Did you know that they want to put me away...away...away...away

No visitors, no flowers, only disinfectant blooms
Ancient bodies fill the wheelchairs that are scattered 'cross the room
The TV in the corner babbles on for company
Singing to herself, drops a photograph, now she's taking off her clothes as she begins to laugh
And she sings

I don't know what to do
This summer afternoon
So many possibilities
The world is waiting just for me
Deciding what will be
Have I ever felt so free
I can do anything
I can do anything
I can do anything
I can do anything
At all