Lyric

I meant to wash my face

Then stood there doing less

The faucet kept working

Better than I did

My sleeve touched the counter

And took in the spill

I watched my hand waiting

Beside the silver tap

The cup sat upside down

With nothing to prove

The toothbrush stayed clean

In its plastic cup

I came here for water

Or maybe my name

I stood by the sink

And misplaced both

It only takes one hand

It only takes a turn

I knew the small answer

And kept standing there

I Left the Water Running

While the clock kept count

One hand on the counter

One task halfway out

I Left the Water Running

Not loud, not much

Just the tap doing work

I could not finish

The drain kept taking

What I never used

The tiles looked patient

In a rented kind of way

A wet mark reached my cuff

Then cooled on my skin

I noticed it late

And did nothing with it

There was paste in the drawer

There was soap by the bowl

There was a towel nearby

Doing its regular job

I had every object

For becoming prepared

I had every step

Except the next one

It only takes one hand

It only takes a turn

I knew the small answer

And kept standing there

I Left the Water Running

While the clock kept count

One hand on the counter

One task halfway out

I Left the Water Running

Not loud, not much

Just the tap doing work

I could not finish

I thought about the bill

Then thought about the meter

Then thought about the landlord

Then thought about my mouth

I should have been drinking

I should have been clean

I should have been moving

From sink to bed

But the room made a line

And I stood inside it

A man with wet hands

And no next instruction

The water kept speaking

In numbers, not words

Small drops, small cost

Small proof I was here

Nothing dramatic happened

No door came apart

No phone call changed me

No glass hit the floor

Just a tap left open

And a body on pause

Just a simple ending

I did not perform

I Left the Water Running

While the clock kept count

One hand on the counter

One task halfway out

I Left the Water Running

Like I had more to do

But I stayed in one place

And the water moved

I Left the Water Running

Not loud, not much

Just the tap doing work

I could not finish