Well, you met her there on a New York City stair
You were throwing up on your shoes
Tryin' to write the great book when it really had you shook
With a bad case of wintertime bluesSo you drag her down to the ragged side of town
She had a taxi to carry her home
Then she left her handkerchief there beside you on the seat
As if to emphasize that you were all aloneIt smelled like springtime and you were just a boy
And all the lilacs in Ohio
All the lilacs in Ohio, there ya go
In the city streets and the dirty winter snowAll the lilacs in Ohio, hio
Well, she's the love story you speak of
When you talk to Sam at the bar
But it's in the details your story often failsYeah, close but no cigar
And you might see your own ass in a double whiskey glass
But you'll never erase her smile
And you'll never write it down, never find her in this townOf phantom dreams and fingernail files
It was springtime and you were just a boy
And all the lilacs in Ohio
All the lilacs in Ohio, there ya go
In city streets and the dirty winter snowAll the lilacs in Ohio, hio
So you pin her handkerchief
To your clean white linen sheets
And you unmake your bed, crawl inYou imagine her there and you're tangled in her hair
And she smells like flowers again
And it's springtime and you were just a boy
All the lilacs in OhioAll the lilacs in Ohio, there ya go
In the city streets and the dirty winter snow
All the lilacs in Ohio, hio