Through the wall in a soft spring rustle
Street-side selling some summer hustle
Across the Maple Street in a bristling fall
Just whistling all's a balled-up riddle
Just a high snowball on a curve and a fall
Through a parking lot at Christmas
I heard her whisper, I heard him call
Here's what the gist was
Only wary in our lives
Open-eyed and half-ashamed
That is to say
A float on a ferry, freezing, tired
Fully wired, a total waste
That's where the spirit left us
Underneath the house, just like a flameout teen
Smells like sweat and gasoline
(Kid, I stand with you)
And when you get hard, and your eyes get mean
'Cause you're on the march, well, I could almost kiss you
Don't let them twist you
Here have this song, you can take it with you
Stay lonely, open-wide
Your eyes all fire, your mind aflame
Don't be disgraced
Loose of limb, unlionized
While all liars fade to grey
Oh, don't feel detested
Did a silence drop?
Did your walkman stop?
Did the air turn cold?
Was the message just so close?
Ah, but did you choke it?
Oh, kid, I know
I know where this is going
Because we always blow it
Only wary in our lives
Open-eyed, half-ashamed
It's just that way
Float down that river, freezing, tired
Fully wired, a total waste
That's where the spirit left us
Only wary in our lives
Your eyes all fire, your mind aflame
And don't be dismayed
When this sobbing world goes screaming by
I swear that if I had my way
You know I would have blessed it