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The Secrets At This Wedding

The Secrets At This Wedding
Words by Christine Lavin
Music by Peter Nelson
Copyright 1995 CL2 (ASCAP)/Old Yellow Music (BMI)

The bride is dancing with the first boy
Who ever asked her on a date;
Her mother glances in the mirror
Makes a mental note, lose weight
The groom is sitting on the dais
With all of his grad school friends
Hoping this is the beginning
Praying this is not the end

The groom's mom asks the bartender
For a stiff one and gives him a wink
The best man dances with his cousin
Thinking things he should not think
The matron of honor sits in the corner
Chain smoking cigarettes
Her husband makes a quick phone call
Add a C-note to that bet

On the other side of town
A woman sits alone in her room
She says she's not hurt or angry
Time has healed most of the wounds
She thinks about crashing the party
But that would be going too far
She stares at the walls
She stares out the window
Wishes on a fallen star

The ladies room attendant
Sews a button on a dress
Worn by the best man's wife
Who's been shouting out requests
The band continues to ignore her
She keep screaming anyway
The bride's grandmother rolls her eyes
Switches off her hearing aid

The flowergirl cries for her mommy
Pulls the ribbons from her curls
The waiters serve the main course
Free-range chicken, pasta swirls
The guests all clink their glasses
'till the happy couple kiss
He takes her hand and whispers
'It doesn't get any better than this'

On the other side of town
A woman sits alone in her room
She says she's not hurt or angry
Time has healed most of the wounds
She thinks about crashing the party
Or maybe sabotaging their car
She stares at the walls
She stares out the window
Wishes on a fallen star

The busboys clear the tables
The band plays one more song
The centerpieces disappear
This party's just a tad too long
The father of the bride is eating
His third piece of wedding cake
He looks at his new son-in-law
Thinking: big mistake

On the other side of town
A door slams in an empty room
A car pulls away from the curb
Races beneath a crescent moon
It's too late for crashing the party
But not for crashing her car
She stares at the road
She stares out the windshield
Wishes on a fallen star