On a Christmas cake day one 
Friday in August 
In a bookshop in Charing Cross Road 
I first set eyes on a girl and at once I did know 

She had eyes like a poet and hair like a rainbow 
Reflecting the lights that did glow 
And the sadness she kept in her eyes 
Struck my senses a blow 

And so as by chance at the touch of a glance 
We could find ourselves out in the road 
With no crush of time to defeat us and no place to go 
And I couldn't say how but the coffee bar crowd 
Had appeared through the silence that broke 
And she said "Oh my father's a judge in St Albans you know." 

"Oh well, then perhaps I could help you 
You know that St. Albans is miles away 
And I've got a room in Swiss Cottage in which you could stay 

"She laughed "Oh I couldn't do that, 
For I've got to be up in the morning you see. 
"So I rang up to find out the first morning train she could take 
And so in the gloom of a candlelit room 
With spaghetti, two forks and a plate 
She said "Oh I really would like to be free and escape." 

"Oh well if it's like thatYou don't have to go back 
And you're perfectly welcome to stay" 
"But I've not finished school yet." she said as she got into bed 

And so as she slept and the pure morning crept 
Through the windows to take her away 
I thought you can't make people be what you want them to be 

I could see my self nailed to a dormitory tale 
Of a holiday night's escapade 
And just yesterday she had seemed like a woman to me 

And so like a child with the sleep in her eyes 
Where the sadness of age had once been 
She left on the train with a "See you again" and a smile 

And I couldn't say what I had won or I lost 
Or even just what I had seen 
But when I'm alone I just think of her once in awhile.