I've lived in all of the houses he's built The one in the air The one underground The one on the water The one in the sand He says: It doesn't matter how we live He says: It doesn't matter where we live We're so close we can dispense with houses We don't need a home at all It's come to be a habit with me to dine alone You're never home And the evenings end so early He says: We can be close from afar He says: The closest people always are We're so close that in our separation There's no distance at all Sometimes I go out to the car Turn on the headlights Intending to leave Sometimes I need to hear the words My imagination's not as strong as you'd believe Oh, but I've talked to you You haven't listened at all I've said I'm numb I can't even cry I'm stuck with acting out a part He says: Wwhat do words ever reveal? He says: In speaking one can be so false We're so close we have a silent language We don't need words at all There's a husky voice That speaks to me in the dark And on the phone from studios And West side bars Through tunnels of long distance He says: We're beyond flowers He says: We're beyond compliments We're so close we can dispense with love We don't need love at all