Almost Real Lyrics > Bridges of Madison County, The

FRANCESCA
When a girl grows up in Napoli,
There are roads laid out before her.
And you understand, i'm speaking of
The times before the war.
When a girl grows up in Napoli,
She is more or less a target

For her mamma's expectations,
For the boys' infatuations;
All you get is one decision:
Will she give them what they want?

CHIARA, Francesca's older sister, appears as Francesca sings about her.

My sister Chiara wore tight-fitting sweaters,
Unbuttoned just so.
Chiara would squeeze every drop of attention
Wherever she'd go.
Chiara said, "'Cesca, you must be prepared."
Chiara would act as though nobody cared.
Chiara would laugh at me, quiet and scared?

And I dreamed of a flat in Siena
On the market square,
With a book and a pot and a window
And a single chair -
Far from lonesome,
Far from Chiara,
Almost real.

PAOLO appears.

Paolo was a boy from down the hill with silver eyes and hair
Like coal
And massive hands that trembled when he looked my way.
Paolo was a boy who loved to swim, and who knows why I fell
For him,
But soon enough I kissed him on a winter's day.

Chiara said, "'Cesca, he's dull and he's dumb.
You'll end up a farm wife, exhausted and numb.
I'm off to the serviceman's club; you should come!"

But I dreamed of the beach at Ancona,
Where our kids would play,
Paolo right by my side, and the ocean
Only steps away?
Close to heaven.
Far from Chiara.
Almost real.

Chiara went dancing while air raid sirens were shrieking.
Chiara would open her legs just as easy as speaking.
Paolo went off with the Army and never returned.
And all that Chiara could say was, "I hope now you've learned."

And the streets were rubble
And the water was filthy
And there were no cigarettes
And no haircuts
And no thinking about the future.
And I sat at the harbor,
Watching the American ships
And then?

BUD appears, 21 years old, in his uniform, clean and young and All-American.

I looked up and I saw an American smile down at me.
And I knew if I just took his hand, I would at least be free.
I could love him, I could want him
Only take me from Italia,
Far from Chiara!
Far enough that I could feel
Almost real.
Last Update: June, 09th 2014