I Knew

It was my first night on the job
Beneath the magic and the lights
I watched her through the day gate
On some September evening
She never even saw me staring
Didn't know my heart stopped cold
I called my best friend later
Said "That's the one — I just know"
I don't know if I believed it
But I knew

I knew Before she knew my name Before I ever said a word Or worked up the nerve to ask I knew Like you know the sun's coming up Like you know when a song is true I didn't know much at nineteen But I knew

She didn't fall easy — good
She made me show up, made me try
First date I cleaned out my account
Spent every dollar, worth every dime
The more I learned her, the more certain
So I asked before someone else could
She said yes — God help her
And forty-two years later here we are
She's laughing at something I said
And God, I knew

I knew Before she knew my name Before I ever said a word Or worked up the nerve to ask I knew Like you know the sun's coming up Like you know when a song is true I didn't know much at nineteen But I knew

Bridge (Instrumental — Lila's fiddle leads. Give it room.)

I knew Before she knew my name Before I ever said a word Or worked up the nerve to ask I knew Like you know the sun's coming up Like you know when a song is true I didn't know much at nineteen

…But I knew