Big Ugly Review: April Fool by Patti Witten

April Fool

by Patti Witten

Sometimes I imagine hanging a big sign above my door, "Shop here for sad songs." But this one, April Fool, borders on what passes for hopeful in my world. I live in a place of great natural beauty and I'm fascinated by the signs of the seasons. Every spring I marvel at the devastation and renewal that take place along the creek nearby. When the ice goes out and spring brings flood, whole trees may be swept away. That's where the phrase "broken things" comes from in this song. It's so sad, so final. But I love to see heartbreak paired with innocent hope. That's the way the world looks to me.
-Patti Witten

Lyrics

Here I go again
The rivers are unlocking and
the starlings and the mockingbirds descend
Here I go again

Riding on the floods
with all of last year's damaged dreams
broken things flow down the stream with them
Here I go again

No matter what I do, I can't be other than
another April fool, so here I go again

Throw the windows wide
fold the heavy blankets down
release the weight, the shuttered sounds within
Here I go again

Caution to the wind
It's the curse and gift of temperate zones
the mystery migration homing in
Here I go again

No matter what I do, I can't be other than
another April fool, so here I go again

Let the dream begin
for longing that defies belief
for beauty that inspires grief, for them
here I go again

No matter what I do, I can't be other than
another April fool, so here I go again

Here I go again