Everything went from bad to worse
Money never changed a thing
Death kept followin', trackin' us down
At least I heard your bluebird sing
Now somebody's got to show their hand
Time is an enemy
I know you're long gone
I guess it must be up to me
If I'd thought about it, I never would've done it
I guess I would've let it slide
If I'd paid attention to what others were thinkin'
The heart inside me would've died
But I was just too stubborn
To ever be governed by enforced insanity
Someone had to reach for the risin' star
I guess it was up to me
Oh, the Union Central is pullin' out
The orchids are in bloom
I've only got me one good shirt left
And it smells of stale perfume
In fourteen months I've only smiled once
And I didn't do it consciously
Somebody's got to find your trail
I guess it's gonna be up to me
It was like a revelation
When you betrayed me with your touch
I'd just about convinced myself
Nothin' had changed that much
The old Rounder in the iron mask
He slipped me the master key
Somebody had to unlock your heart
He said it was up to me
Now I watched you slowly disappear
Down into the officers' club
I would've followed you in the door
But I didn't have a ticket stub
So I waited all night till the break of day
Hopin' one of us could get free
Oh, when the dawn came over the river bridge
I knew it was up to me
The only decent thing I did
When I worked as a postal clerk
Was to haul your picture down off the wall
Near the cage where I used to work
Was I a fool or not
To protect your real identity?
You looked a little burned out, my friend
I thought it might be up to me
I met somebody face to face
I had to remove my hat
She's everything I need and love
But I can't be swayed by that
It frightens me, the awful truth
Of how sweet life can be
But she ain't gonna make a move
I guess it must be up to me
Now we heard the Sermon on the Mount
And I knew it was too complex
It didn't amount to anything more
Than what the broken glass reflects
When you bite off more than you can chew
You got to pay the penalty
Somebody's got to tell the tale
I guess it must be up to me
Dupree came in pimpin' tonight
To the Thunderbird Café
Crystal wanted to talk to him
I had to look the other way
Now, I just can't rest without your love
I need your company
You ain't gonna cross the line
I guess it must be up to me
There's a note left in the bottle
You can give it to Estelle
She's the one you been wond'rin' about
But there's really nothin' much to tell
We both heard voices for a while
Now the rest is history
Somebody's got to cry some tears
I guess it must be up to me
So go on, boys, and play your hands
Life is a pantomime
The ringleaders from the county seat
Say you don't have all that much time
And the girl with me behind the shades
She ain't my property
One of us has got to hit the road
I guess it must be up to me
If we never meet again
Baby, remember me
How my lone guitar played sweet for you
That old-time melody
And the harmonica around my neck
I blew it for you, free
No one else could play that tune
You know it was up to me