My father sits at night with no lights on.
His cigarette glows in the dark.
The living room is still.
I walk by, no remark.
I tiptoe past the master bedroom where,
My mother reads her magazines.
I hear her call, "Sweet dreams,"
But I forget how to dream.

But you say it's time we moved in together,
And raised a family of our own, you and me.
Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be.
You want to marry me, we'll marry.

My friends from college, they're all married now.
They have their houses and their lawns.
They have their silent noons,
Tearful nights, angry dawns.
Their children hate them for the things they're not.
They hate themselves for what they are.
And yet they drink, they laugh,
Close the wound, hide the scar.

But you say it's time we moved in together,
And raised a family of our own, you and me.
Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be.
You want to marry me, we'll marry.

Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/ALCYou say that we can keep our love alive.
Babe, all I know is what I see.
The couples cling and claw,
And drown in love's debris.
You say we'll soar like two birds,
Through the clouds,
But soon you'll cage me on your shelf.
I'll never learn to be just me first, by myself.

Well O.K., it's time we moved in together,
And raised a family of our own, you and me.
Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be.
You want to marry me, we'll marry.
(Marry.)

THAT'S THE WAY I ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE
Written by: Jacob Brackman & Carly Simon-1971.
Performed by: Carly Simon1-1971.
Appears on: Carly Simon-1971, AM Gold (1971)-1990*2, The Best of Carly
Simon-1975 & (Bonus Track)-1991, Singers & Songwriters: 40 Hits-1990*, Only
Love: Twenty Hits (1970-1974)-1995*, The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody
Does It Better-1998, Anthology-2002, Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest
Hits-2004, Singer-2008*, et al. (*Compilation of various artists.)

1Covered by: Sandra Bernhard, Joanie Pallatto, The Undercovers, et al.

2Transcribed from the track on this album.