The one thing I have never regretted is independence
I began to yearn for it when I was a child
When I was eight years old
I lived with two cold, grey aunts
In a cold, grey house
My mother died when I was two
My father -
My father was a champagne salesman
And he was exactly like his product
Just as irresistible
And if you were poor, just as hard to find
I adored him
And I lived for his occasional visit
Six weeks before my first communion
He came for the afternoon
I pleaded with him to
Take me away with him
But Gabrielle, where would I take you?
I live nowhere!
I travel
But, I will not be away for a year this time
I'm coming back for your communion
In seven weeks
Six!
Even better
And you're not going to wear that hideous bedspread
That your aunts selected for you
I'm going to buy you a communion dress
Fit for a princess
Could it be red?
A red communion dress?
Why not?
Bright red!
Now, what do you say to that?
Take me with you, Papa
Next time, Gabrielle
After your communion
We will go away together
And you will always be happy
Gabrielle
There's a new and happy you not far away
Gabrielle
"What became of what's-her-name?"
The world will say
Gabrielle
Will be never seen again
Amen
Gabrielle
Will be known as Merry Mimi (no)
Momo (no)
Kiki (Mm-mm)
Coco (Coco!)
Fare thee well
Little grand unhappy Gabrielle
Farewell
Fare thee well
From that wild delicious child Coco, farewell
Gabrielle
Dream away a little
Play a little, pray a little
Make the hours fly
Till we tell Gabrielle
Goodbye
Take me with you, Papa
Six weeks is not a long time, Coco
Five! Five
Just keep thinking about that bright red communion dress
Gabrielle
Dream away a little, play a little
Pray a little
Make the hours fly
(Papa!)
Till we tell Gabrielle
Goodbye
I never saw him again
For weeks after my communion
I sat by the road, watching for him
And then
One day
I began to hear that small, clear voice
Of that other person
We carry inside
And it was saying
"Coco
Coco
Hoping too high
Fell down from the sky
And started to cry
It's the end of Coco
Coco
Where is a friend
To trust and depend upon?
"Scan the hills
Rake the sky
But your searching won't end
Till you try
To learn to
Turn to
Someone who's called
Coco
Coco
Coco"
Slowly, my self-pity turned to bitterness
And my bitterness to resolve
That one day
I would never lean on anyone
Count on anyone
Or place my fate in anyone's hands
But mine
Ever again
Scan the hills
Rake the sky
But your searching won't end till you try
To learn to (learn to)
Turn to (turn to)
Someone (someone)
Who's called (who's called)
Coco (Coco)
Coco (Coco)
Coco (Coco)