Across the Sea

You are 18 year old girl
Who lives in a small city in Japan.
You met me at a meeting about one year ago
And you wanted to know all about me, and my hobbies
My favorite food and my birthday.
Why are you so far away from me?
I need help and you're way across the sea.
I could never touch you - I think it would be wrong.
But I've got your letter and you've got my song.

They don't make stationery like this where I'm from
So fragile, so refined.
So I sniff and I kiss your envelope and fall to little pieces every time.
I wonder what clothes you wear to work,
I wonder how you decorate your room,
I wonder how you comb your hair and curse myself for being across the sea.

When young I shaved my head and tried to be a monk.
I thought the older women would like me if I did.
You see, Ma, I'm a good little boy.
It's all your fault, Papa, it's all your fault.
Goddamn, this world is really lame,
I gotta live on an island to find the juice.
So you send me your love from all around the world,
As if I could live on words and dreams and a million screams
Oh, how I need a hand in mine to feel.

Why are you so far away from me?
I need help and you're way across the sea.
I could never touch you - I think it would be wrong.
But I've got your letter and you've got my song.