This song marks the emotional climax of the musical Parade, based on
The Leo Frank Case. After the conclusion of the song Leo is kidnapped by a
lynch mob and promptly executed. The cruel irony of the situation makes it all the more poignant.
LEO FRANK
I will never understand
What I did to deserve you
Or how to be the man
That I'm supposed to be
I will never understand
If I live a thousand lifetimes
Why you did the things you did for me
Just look at you
How could I not be in love with you?
What kind of fool could have taken you
For granted for so long?
All the wasted time
All the million hours
Pushing you away
Building up my wall
All the days gone by
To glare, to pout, to push you out
And I never knew anything at all
I never knew anything at all
LUCILLE FRANK
I will never understand
How all the world misjudged you
When I have always known
How lucky I must be
I will never understand
How I kept from going crazy
Just waiting there till you came home to me
Now look at me
Now that you're finally here with me
Now that I know I was right to wait
And everyone else was so wrong
For so long
All the wasted time
All the million hours
Years on top of years
Still too proud to cry
All the days gone by
To feel that I don't satisfy
And I never knew anything at all
I never knew anything at all
LEO FRANK
All the wasted time
All the million hours
BOTH
Leaves too high to touch
Roots to strong to fall
All the days gone by
To never show I loved you so
And I never knew anything at all
LEO FRANK
I never knew anything at all