Lyrics Tom - Audra McDonald

Tom

One year ago, the twelfth of May
That luncheonette where he appeared
I see him first, and then he smiles
I won’t forget, I won’t forget—
Something sad is playing on the jukebox
A girl who’s lost her boyfriend to a friend—
I can’t remember my husband’s face
I can’t remember my lover’s face
But I can remember a stranger’s face
His name is Tom
I leave tip, do not look back
I reach the park, and he appears
That brilliant smile, those two-tone shoes
His eyes are green, he says hello
Suddenly, the city seems on fire
It’s like the world has finally reached an end
I don’t remember my husband’s voice
I don’t remember my lover’s voice
But I do remember, I hear that voice
And I’m wanting to run, I’m wanting to scream
I’m wanting to cry, I—
I ask his name, and we kiss
And the angels sigh
We kiss, and the heaven’s smile
We fly like angels would like to fly
We kiss and say goodbye
What’s better is what would have been
What’s sweeter is what would have been
The twelfth of May, that brilliant smile
The greatest of adventures of my life
I can’t remember my husband’s name
I can’t remember my lover’s name
But I can remember what would have been
It has a name