Harry Chapin - Up On the Shelf lyrics

I used to play the trumpet once
But now I play guitar
Somebody told you it's more mellow
Well I've played a lot of music since
But I really haven't grown that far
Somebody said that you're just yellow

So I keep it up on the shelf
And it's funny how you keep
It all to yourself hey honey
Could there ever be should there ever be
Could there ever be something else?

You know I used to swing my silver sword
The dragons hit the ground
Whatever happened to the maidens?
Well I'd swing my silver sword again
And they would all fall down
Would you leave them lying there
Where you had laid them?

And I used to have a country once
Where it's gone I do not know
Where do you think you might have lost it?
I used to raise the flag at dawn
But that was very long ago
Maybe you could find it where you tossed it

Well I, I tossed it up on the shelf
And it's funny how you've kept
It all for yourself hey honey
Could there ever be should there ever be
Could there ever be something else?

I used to say my prayers boys
I used to sing the hymns
Even the echo's disappearing
They've broken the stained windows
The cathedral's getting dim
Then what is this dirge that we are hearing?

Well it comes from up on the shelf
And it's funny how you sing
It only for yourself hey honey
Could there ever be should there ever be
Could there ever be something else?

Well, I used to have a lover once
I used to have a friend
How in the hell you ever find one?
My song is almost over now
My story's at an end
You lived yourself a good life
But a blind one

Well I've hidden there up on the shelf
And it's funny how you've kept
It all for yourself hey honey
Could there ever be should there ever be
Could there ever be something else?