Tryin' and tryin' and tryin' to trace it from Voltaire back to Vonnegut As our shadows merge sideways to silhouettes It's as satisfying as cigarettes as the ambulance carried you through You gave it your big heart, such a brave girl What a terrible burden to bear So I'm sorry to leave but I simply can't breathe in this terribly terrible air All the strangers passing through Lubricating stiffened moves They've rehearsed it all before So what's there to talk about? And why oh why oh why Can't we just speed by flashing yellow lights Stretch our dirty hands, fingering the sky? When we've prepared ourselves for an afterlife I presume will just disappoint too All of the sequin shines, coca cola lines It's a tired and torrid affair So I'm sorry to leave but I simply can't breathe in this terribly terrible air Can't we drink cheap wine out of paper cups? Let our lips stain, let our hearts erupt Cause when the whole wide world is blowin' up I'll just duck and cover with you What could I do? I knew I needed you and you knew I knew it too So I'm sorry to leave but I simply can't breathe in this terribly terrible air