You’re only happy if that sad day
Which made more sadness has gone away.
Because it’s gone, and because it was truly sad,
The happiness is, today seems glad.
Yesterday was sadder than today—
You, by comparison, are not as sad.
If you were sadder then, good news!
Sadness then is beautiful news!
Today, you’ll be able to hear the blues—
Chopin, Debussy, and sad Satie,
The music you listened to with me—
Today, you can hear it without crying,
Calm in the sadness you are feeling now,
Dreaming by the low blue valley now.
The love which hurt you—because I was lying,
Becomes, in the notes of our familiar song
The artificial sadness you felt all along
Because truth was yours, and I was wrong.
You can finally enjoy the saddest song
Like others, and the others who are strong
Make you strong, too,
The others who always seemed happier than you.
You were often sad—but never mad!
None could be as sad
As you—who loved, and because you loved, were gladder
Than all that now compares to something sadder.
Today you can listen to Satie
Though you once listened to him with me.