《The Gift》歌词

[00:00:00] The Gift - The Velvet Underground

[00:00:01] Waldo Jeffers had reached his limit

[00:00:04] It was now mid-august

[00:00:06] Which meant that he had been separated

[00:00:08] From marsha for more than two months

[00:00:10] Two months and all he had to show were three dog-eared letters

[00:00:13] And two very expensive long distance phone calls

[00:00:16] True when school had ended and she'd returned to wisconsin

[00:00:20] And he to locust pennsylvania

[00:00:22] She had sworn to maintain a certain fidelity

[00:00:25] She would date occasionally but merely as amusement

[00:00:29] She would remain faithful

[00:00:31] But lately waldo had begun to worry

[00:00:34] He had trouble sleeping at night

[00:00:36] And when he did he had horrible dreams

[00:00:40] He lay awake at night

[00:00:41] Tossing and turning underneath his printed quilt protector

[00:00:45] Tears welling in his eyes

[00:00:47] As he pictured marsha

[00:00:48] Her sworn vows overcome by

[00:00:51] Liquor and the smooth soothings of some neanderthal

[00:00:54] Finally submitting to the final caresses of sexual oblivion

[00:00:59] It was more than the human mind could bear

[00:01:02] Visions of marsha's faithlessness haunted him

[00:01:05] Daytime fantasies of sexual abandon permeated his thoughts

[00:01:09] And the thing was they wouldn't understand who she really was

[00:01:13] He waldo alone understood this

[00:01:16] He had intuitively grasped every nook and cranny of her psyche

[00:01:20] He had made her smile and she needed him

[00:01:23] And he wasn't there

[00:01:25] The idea came to him on the thursday

[00:01:27] Before the mummers parade was scheduled to appear

[00:01:30] He had just finished mowing and edging

[00:01:32] The edelsons lawn for a dollar-fifty

[00:01:33] And had checked the mailbox to see

[00:01:35] If there was at least a word from marsha

[00:01:38] There was nothing more than a circular

[00:01:39] Form the amalgamated aluminum company of america

[00:01:41] Inquiring into his awning needs

[00:01:43] At least they cared enough to write

[00:01:46] It was a new york company

[00:01:48] You could go anywhere in the mails

[00:01:51] Then it struck him

[00:01:52] He didn't have enough money to go

[00:01:54] To wisconsin in the accepted fashion

[00:01:56] True but why not mail himself

[00:01:59] It was absurdly simple

[00:02:00] He would ship himself parcel post special delivery

[00:02:04] The next day waldo went to the supermarket

[00:02:06] To purchase the necessary equipment

[00:02:08] He bought masking tape a staple gun and a medium sized

[00:02:12] Cardboard box just right for a person of his build

[00:02:15] He judged that with a minimum of jostling

[00:02:17] He could ride quite comfortably

[00:02:19] A few airholes some water

[00:02:21] A selection of midnight snacks

[00:02:23] And it would probably be as good as going tourist

[00:02:26] By friday afternoon waldo was set

[00:02:28] He was thoroughly packed and the post office

[00:02:30] Had agreed to pick him up at three o'clock

[00:02:32] He'd marked the package "FRAGILE"

[00:02:34] And as he sat curled up inside

[00:02:36] Resting in the foam rubber cushioning he'd thoughtfully included

[00:02:39] He tried to picture the look of awe

[00:02:41] And happiness on marsha's face

[00:02:42] As she opened the door saw the package tipped the deliverer

[00:02:46] And then opened it to see her waldo finally there in person

[00:02:50] She would kiss him and then maybe they could see a movie

[00:02:54] If he'd only thought of this before

[00:02:56] Suddenly rough hands gripped his package

[00:02:59] And he felt himself borne up

[00:03:01] He landed with a thud in a truck

[00:03:03] And then he was off

[00:03:04] Marsha bronson had just finished setting her hair

[00:03:08] It had been a very rough weekend

[00:03:10] She had to remember not to drink like that

[00:03:13] Bill had been nice about it though

[00:03:15] After it was over he'd said that he still respected her and

[00:03:18] After all

[00:03:19] It was certainly the way of nature and even though no

[00:03:22] He didn't love her

[00:03:23] He did feel an affection for her

[00:03:26] And after all they were grown adults

[00:03:28] Oh what bill could teach waldo

[00:03:31] But that seemed many years ago

[00:03:34] Sheila klein

[00:03:35] Her very very best friend walked in through

[00:03:38] The porch screen door into the kitchen

[00:03:41] Oh god it's absolutely maudlin outside

[00:03:44] Ugh I know what you mean I feel all icky

[00:03:49] Marsha tightened the belt on her cotton robe

[00:03:51] With the silk outer edge

[00:03:53] Sheila ran her finger over some salt grains on the kitchen table

[00:03:56] Licked her finger and made a face

[00:03:59] I'm supposed to be taking these salt pills but

[00:04:01] She wrinkled her nose

[00:04:02] They make me feel like throwing up

[00:04:05] Marsha started to pat herself under the chin

[00:04:07] An exercise she'd seen on television

[00:04:10] God don't even talk about that

[00:04:12] She got up from the table and went to the sink

[00:04:15] Where she picked up a bottle of pink and blue vitamins

[00:04:17] Want one Supposed to be better than steak

[00:04:19] And attempted to touch her knees

[00:04:22] I don't think I'll ever touch a daiquiri again

[00:04:25] She gave up and sat down

[00:04:27] This time nearer the small table that supported the telephone

[00:04:30] Maybe bill'll call

[00:04:32] She said to sheila's glance

[00:04:34] Sheila nibbled on a cuticle

[00:04:36] After last night I thought maybe you'd be through with him

[00:04:40] I know what you mean

[00:04:41] My god

[00:04:41] He was like an octopus

[00:04:42] Hands all over the place

[00:04:44] She gestured

[00:04:45] Raising her arms upward in defense

[00:04:47] The thing is after a while

[00:04:49] You get tired of fighting with him

[00:04:50] You know and after all he didn't really do anything

[00:04:53] Friday and saturday so I kind of owed it to him

[00:04:55] You know what I mean

[00:04:56] She started to scratch

[00:04:58] Sheila was giggling with her hand over her mouth

[00:05:01] I'll tell you I felt the same way and even after a while

[00:05:05] She bent forward in a whisper

[00:05:07] I wanted to

[00:05:08] And now she as laughing very loudly

[00:05:11] It was at this point that

[00:05:12] Mr Jameson of the clarence arrow post office

[00:05:14] Rang the door bell of the large tucco colored frame house

[00:05:18] When marsha bronson pened the door

[00:05:20] He helped her carry the package in

[00:05:22] He had his yellow and his green slips of paper signed

[00:05:24] And left with a fifteen-cent tip

[00:05:26] That marsha had gotten out of her mothers

[00:05:28] Small beige pocket book in the den

[00:05:30] What do you think it is

[00:05:31] Sheila asked

[00:05:33] Marsha stood with her arms folded behind her back

[00:05:36] She stared at the brown cardboard carton

[00:05:38] That sat in the middle of the living room

[00:05:40] I don't know

[00:05:42] Inside the package waldo quivered with excitement

[00:05:44] As he listened to the muffled voices

[00:05:47] Sheila ran her fingernail over the masking tape

[00:05:49] That ran down the center of the carton

[00:05:52] Why don't you look at the return address

[00:05:53] And see who it is from

[00:05:55] Waldo felt his heart beating

[00:05:57] He could feel the vibrating footsteps

[00:06:00] It would be soon

[00:06:02] Marsha walked around the carton

[00:06:03] And read the ink-scratched label

[00:06:06] Ugh god it's from waldo

[00:06:08] That schmuck

[00:06:09] Said sheila

[00:06:11] Waldo trembled with expectation

[00:06:14] Well you might as well open it

[00:06:16] Said sheila

[00:06:16] Both of them tried to lift the stapled flap

[00:06:19] Ah shit

[00:06:21] Said marsha groaning

[00:06:22] He must have nailed it shut

[00:06:24] They tugged at the flap again

[00:06:26] My god you need a power drill to get this thing opened

[00:06:30] They pulled again

[00:06:32] You can't get a grip

[00:06:35] They both stood still breathing heavily

[00:06:38] Why don't you get the scissors

[00:06:40] Said sheila

[00:06:41] Marsha ran into the kitchen

[00:06:43] But all she could find was a little sewing scissor

[00:06:46] Then she remembered that

[00:06:47] Her father kept a collection of tools in the basement

[00:06:50] She ran downstairs and when she came back

[00:06:52] She had a large sheet-metal cutter in her hand

[00:06:55] This is the best I could find

[00:06:57] She was very out of breath

[00:06:59] Here you do it I'm gonna die

[00:07:01] She sank into a large fluffy couch and exhaled noisily

[00:07:06] Sheila tried to make a slit between the masking tape

[00:07:09] And the end of the cardboard

[00:07:11] But the blade was too big and there wasn't enough room

[00:07:14] Godamn this thing

[00:07:16] She said feeling very exasperated

[00:07:18] Then smiling

[00:07:19] I got an idea

[00:07:21] What

[00:07:22] Said marsha

[00:07:23] Just watch

[00:07:23] Said sheila touching her finger to her head

[00:07:26] Inside the package waldo was so transfixed with

[00:07:29] Excitement that he could barely breathe

[00:07:32] His skin felt prickly from the heat

[00:07:34] And he could feel his heart beating in his throat

[00:07:37] It would be soon

[00:07:39] Sheila stood quite upright and walked around

[00:07:42] To the other side of the package

[00:07:44] Then she sank down to her knees

[00:07:46] Grasped the cutter by both handles

[00:07:48] Took a deep breath and plunged the long blade

[00:07:51] Through the middle of the package

[00:07:53] Through the masking tape

[00:07:54] Through the cardboard through the cushioning

[00:07:56] And right through the center of waldo jeffers head

[00:08:00] Which split slightly and caused little rhythmic arcs

[00:08:02] Of red to pulsate gently in the morning sun