richard (rewrite three)

richard greets me at the door
with a song and a smile
and says "good to see you
haven't seen you for a while"
I don't tell him I'm in trouble
and I've been depressed
stuck in my apartment
like I'm under house arrest
but richard knows that
I don't know how
but that's not what we're talking about now
we're talking music
we're talking songs
and richard brings me back into
a world where I belong

richard hands me a guitar
and gets himself a uke
my voice is rough and hollow
and it makes me want to puke
but richard says it's fine
and encourages me
and I feel just like I might be part
of some community
and richard knows that
it's natural as the wind
he opens up his heart
and invites everybody in
with songs of real life
itchin' to get played
richard brings me back into
a world where I'm okay

richard takes the chorus
and he solos on the strings
and the melody's ascending
from its bruised and broken wings
and it rises like the phoenix
from the ashes of despair
when you need the music most
it's always in the air
and richard knows that
it's everything he hears
sounds of love and laughter
ringing in the atmosphere
like a guardian angel
or a long-lost friend
richard brings me back
into a world worth living in