I drew a heart with an arrow on her sneaker
Ballpoint initials were still a secret
She braided my hair down my back when I'd meet her
under the culvert, our toes in the water

We read about a women shaved her head for the service
No bulge in her pants must have made the men nervous
They strapped her down right, licked her cheeks, and they hurt her
Chelsea, is this the way we go under?

And now she's gone
How is she gone?
They wouldn't let me have her
They couldn't know how I loved her

Chelsea grew angry and thin like worn leather
She pierced both her lips, and she spit at the teachers
You assholes don't know how those other girls treat me
Shoot gum in my hair, they carved “dyke” on my chair

Down south the professors remain built of potential
They fed my right ear, scratched the left out as evil
I met a young man: boring and gentle
He dug me a koi pond, menorah on the mantle

And now she's gone
How is she gone?
They wouldn't let me have her
They couldn't know how I loved her

Now I'm another gray with arthritis
I drive by the culverts, I drown by my memories
I think of her hands and her love and her anger
Chelsea, is this the way we stay under?

And now you’re gone
How are you gone?
They wouldn't let me have you
They couldn't know how I loved her