I think I know what started it all
I went nuts on you last fall.
I surprised you, surprised me
The first time in years you didn’t recognize me.
I tried hard to make you stay
I ruined it by trying to make it okay.
When you left I didn’t know what to do
Didn’t know what I wanted, only wanted you
I stood in my closet and screamed into my clothes
Screamed into my pillow till I hurt my throat.
I threw away your socks, put your pictures in a box,
I kept the banjo, and erased your songs
I didn’t feel a feeling for months
I think that I was saved by shock.
I loved you dearly and for life
But I didn’t know your rules and I couldn’t read your mind

I gave you everything
But the kitchen sink
Now I’m giving you
What I really think

I froze my love and I preserved it
Because I thought that you deserved it
Back to the city to try again
Found your heart is still frozen.
It must have been all those years of breathing you in
That let you in deeper than anyone has ever been
I know it seems easy for me to open up
But not every man gains my trust.
If I could put your brain on
I’d see you have a simple refrain on:
Stay away from what hurts.
Stay away if it takes work.
I know I act all strong and happy
I cover up, I’m busy and sunny
but losing you completely fucked me
I lost the one person that I needed to love me.
I lost my best friend too.
I lost the only one who knew
my parents and my body.
I lost your music and your whole family.
If you see me and I tell you I’m great,
I’m probably compensating cuz your silence feels like hate.
Go ahead and say that I was mean and pushy
Convince yourself you were oppressed and bullied
But I always did what I had to do
And I expected nothing less of you
And I gave you great sex and some pretty awesome presents
And some gorgeous songs and kick-ass letters
And all my love and all my patience
And all I’ve got left is that awful t-shirt.
How can you do it? Let me in
And kick me out like it never meant a thing?

I gave you everything
But the kitchen sink
Now I’m giving you
What I really think

Maybe I got what I deserved
Maybe I judge and I act the worst
Yes I know I dropped some balls
Do I strike you as a person who doesn’t know her flaws?
I know myself: I’m not good enough.
Hope hurts bad! Hope is rough!
I’m afraid I’m gonna be alone
I’m afraid I won’t love like that again
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again
Well it really sucks to try without my best friend
I know you’re scared and you’ve got a lot to lose
but I am scared shitless too.
I’m not the only one who feels bad
(you hold the phone at arm's length)
I know the awful time you’ve had
(your pauses clog the kitchen sink)
Other people know your life better
(there's a cake of soap in the bath for you)
But I still feel like we’re going through this together
(I pour coffee, I pour for two)
But you’re ruder to me than to anyone else
Because if you faced me you’d have to face yourself
I remind you of the jerk you can be
That is why you ignore me.
Would it kill you to check in with me
To call and check in about my family?
What do you get from shutting me out?
Do you think it’s strong to close your heart?

I gave you everything
But the kitchen sink
Now I’m giving you
What I really think

I can tell you I miss you
(I have drawers that I leave closed)
It felt like a dream to kiss you.
(I have drawers that I leave closed)
It’s hard to find and hard to make it stay
But none of it matters if you push me away.
I want your body, I adore your mind
(you burned your face on my brain)
Isn’t finding love the whole point of life?
(left fingerprints on my skin)
So I wasn’t perfect the first time
(you cut out of me so fast)
Have you heard of learning and second tries?
(you never took the time to pack)
Why don’t you think about how lucky you are
That someone so awesome loves you so hard?
That someone would lay on the tracks for you
Someone you miss and who you love too.
People hope their whole lives for what we had
People die never having felt what we did
I need someone who can take a good love
If he doesn’t fight for it at least doesn’t hide from it.
I hope you hear this and you get mad
I hope you get pissed and you fight back
Just don’t roll over and play dead
Just remember what I said:

I will be so good to you baby
So good and hard for you baby
I will take care of you baby
If you will take care of me

I gave you everything
(my heart is my favorite part)
But the kitchen sink
Now I’m giving you
(it is strong it holds a lot)
What I really think
I gave you everything
But the kitchen sink
What are you gonna do
With what I really think