Songtext Slow surprise Chris Smither

Slow surprise

There is a way subtle changes come to stay

Barely noticed and hardly known

One day you'll say "My situation's locked away"

But by tomorrow, you're all alone

It seems so sudden, but it's not, it's only grown

From a seed that long ago was left forgotten in the snow

And has a way with slow surprises on its own.

It's hard to show, but like a boulder rolling slow

Or a rumble deep in the ground

Things whisper low, and by the time I really know

What's been moving, they've settled down

Too late to see they're shifting 'round

Too late to say "There's bound to be another way"

It's all been said and done without a sound.

This comes to me, now that I begin to see

It's not dramatic, it's nothing grand

I used to be half the whole of you and me

Now I'm the limit of half a man

Seems so simple, nothing much to understand

You walked out and closed the door, said "I don't live here anymore"

Now nothing's hanging heavy in my hands.