We went to a Japanese restaurant   the dogs, the kids, and me   lose my cares   in a cup of plum wine   and salads from the sea   we tripped into the calm little   room   with the sliding paper walls   mom was wearin’ her rose kimono   she was waiting for the fall      just another night   a day in the life   just another foreign film   in black and white   when you mess with them   you’re out of the realm of Zen   when they put on their party   hats   the cook cracked, yeah yeah yeah       the cook, he told me   “children not exactly well   behaved”   I said, “well, you can’t have it all”   and really, who cares   when the magic plum wine   is dancing on the paper walls?   then your lover shows up   puts a sweet hello on your lips   and you’re transported   to the mist on the mountain   till everyone runs in for the kiss      don’t you know   it’s just another night   a day in the life   just another foreign film   in black and white   when you mess with them   you’re beyond the realm of Zen   when they put on their party    hats   the cook cracked, yeah yeah yeah       did that ever happen to you?      as the wine descended   my citizenship surrendered   and I became a geisha   I moved through the mystery   dark and content   with an uppity feminist bent   Mr. Cook, don’t you save my life   don’t you save my love   I am quite contented, yes, sir   the elders say   kids are grown and gone   someday   so let’s enjoy the adventure   I’m sorry   but it’s just another night   a day in the life      Waitress, do you remember us?    As you can see, the situation is still a little out of control,   but I haven’t had a cigarette—it’s amazing—in five years.    But you know, for five years, I’ve been very hungry.       I’m sorry   but it’s just another night and day