Indigo Girls No Way To Treat A Friend
"No Way to Treat a Friend" is an Amy Ray song, probably written
around 1985 or earlier, even. A live version of it appears on the
"Blue Food" cassette, and it has been performed fairly regularly
since then. The lyrics I'm transcribing are from no particular
version, as the song changed a bit over the years. Instead, I'm kind
of compiling it from seven different versions from 1985/6 to 1991.
So when I choose one phrase over another, such as "When I walked you
to the door" instead of "When I walked through the door," well, it's
totally a judgement call on my part. So sue me.
No Way to Treat a Friend
When I walked you to the door, I was feeling mighty fine
I was thinking "Hey, I've got love to ease my mind."
Then I got to the car, and I was staring at your scars
Thinking "Hey, this ain't no way to spend my time."
I want a true love affair, not this touch-and-go in the air
You know I don't know if I'm coming or I'm down
I don't want a love touch and go, I want a feeling I only know
Or else you can't get me out of this town.
When I saw you smile, it was just one look into your eyes
And I was thinking "Hey, you're in love again."
Then I heard you laugh, honey, you were laughing at the past
I was thinking "This ain't no way to treat a friend."
You were laughing at the past, you were smiling through your glass
Watching cars drive away in your mind
You were hoping I would leave, honey, I was dreaming I could stay
This ain't no way to spend my time.
(At this point, recent versions have a guitar solo, while early
versions include a bridge with the following lyrics:
This ain't no way to treat a friend
This ain't no way to see me
I'm looking for the end
This ain't no way to treat a friend.)
I want words, I want touch, maybe that's a bit too much
For someone so far removed from what we used to claim
If you be cruel, I'll still be kind, I've got it in my mind
I'm in love with you, I ain't gonna play your game.
If you want my advice, don't say it's wrong if it feels right
Don't push me down just to see me crawl
I'll be crawling on your floor, I'll be reaching for the door
I'll be crawling right out of your eyes
Honey, I'll be walking right out of your eyes
Baby, I'll be walking right out of your eyes.