relative ends (who will pay the rent?)

listening to the words of a song
from a movie that was a play
will someone care

sung by the members of a life support group
for people dying of aids
suddenly i am aware

that everyone is dying
and everyone is trying
to not be alone in the end

and everyone is wondering
the question is thundering
will someone be the friend
who will be there in the end

we're all asking
will i lose my dignity
will someone care
when the body fails me
when i can no longer care for myself
when old age ails me
when i must depend on someone else
will i face nursing home dangers
will i be put out with the trash
will i be at the mercy of strangers
wiping my nose, my drool, my ass
will i lose my dignity
will someone care

it may be more obvious with cancer or aids
but we all share the same fear
of being alone at the end

old age is the final card that is played
if none of the others do it,
old age will, my friend

for everyone is dying
and everyone is trying
to not be alone in the end

and everyone is wondering
the question is thundering
will someone be the friend
who will be there in the end

we're all asking
will i lose my dignity
will someone care
when the body fails me
when i can no longer care for myself
when old age ails me
when i must depend on someone else
will i face nursing home dangers
will i be put out with the trash
will i be at the mercy of strangers
wiping my nose, my drool, my ass
will i lose my dignity
will someone care

sometimes i want to end it all while i can
rather than be alone when i'm helpless at the end
sometimes i want to end it all, do you understand?
no one answers when i ask who will be the friend?

we're all asking
will i lose my dignity
will someone care
when the body fails me
when i can no longer care for myself
when old age ails me
when i must depend on someone else
will i face nursing home dangers
will i be put out with the trash
will i be at the mercy of strangers
wiping my nose, my drool, my ass
will i lose my dignity
will someone care

for everyone is dying
and everyone is trying
to not be alone in the end

and everyone is wondering
the question is thundering
will someone be the friend
who will be there in the end