Nothing You Can Do

I was very good at being good. It was the one thing I was for.

I could read the temperature of a room from the sound of a door.

And when I got it right there was a warmth that came across the table,

and when I got it wrong the warmth went off like somebody flicked a switch.

And nobody was cruel. I want that understood before I go on.

It was just a house where love arrived as a result—

And there is nothing you can do!

Nothing! I have looked for the line!

I have gone over the whole of it and there isn't one, there was never one,

there is nothing you could do to move me off this!

Nothing you can do!

Not the grades, not the noise, not the thing you did last month —

you cannot get to the bottom of it because there isn't one!

There is nothing you can do!

You came in with your head down and a letter in your bag,

and I felt the whole of my childhood arrive in my face.

I had it. The exact expression. I had my father in my mouth,

and I had about one second, and I have never worked so hard.

So I put it down. And I said your name. And you looked up like it was coming.

And I said the thing that nobody ever said to me—

There is nothing you can do!

Nothing! I have looked for the line!

I have gone over the whole of it and there isn't one, there was never one,

there is nothing you could do to move me off this!

Nothing you can do!

And I'm not saying it's fine — we'll deal with what you did —

but it happens on this side of it, and you don't go outside for it!

There is nothing you can do!

And you looked at me like I'd gone mad.

Which is correct. It came out shaking and about twice as loud as it needed to be.

And I'm going to say it again tomorrow. And the one after that.

Until it's boring. Until you're sick of hearing it.

That's the whole ambition — I want you bored of it.

I want it to be as interesting to you as the weather.

(one piano chord — then the band comes back enormous)

There is nothing you can do!

Nothing you could ever do!

I have gone over the whole of it and there isn't one, there was never one,

and I would like to have known that at your age —

so you're getting it early and you're getting it loud!

Nothing you can do!

Nothing you can do!

It was already yours before you got here.

There is nothing you can do.

Come down when you're ready.

Tea's on.