Second Voice

Call me by my second name

I suppose I'll still be the same

You didn't call back

On the phone did my voice sound alone?

I keep asking my people if they are ashamed

I met you in the summer you wrote me letters through November

And then over the winter we went on the road together

I hate to think what you must think of me now

After two oh oh something when I kept my heart spread out

But you too can be cruel

And I don't live in no cave

I just sleep in the dark like most people do

Why can't you?

And though I'd hate to think I'm just like everybody, everybody else

My heart set me down at the Rock Star Bar

Said babe you're just as fucked up as the rest

Nobody should hang from a collar or the hem of a dress

Hungry woman do you cling to your pain?

Oh yes, oh yes

If I pulled the wool over your eyes

I pulled it over mine too

Don't close your eyes while you sing

Don't you know people like me are watching you?

If your faith is strong but fleeting

You will be lonely for most of the time

Hey baby, pretty baby

Happy two thousand and nine

And though I've talked my fair share of trash

I haven't the stomach to be hated

While couples upstairs scream

How will you pay

When I choose to stay

I don't listen

I'm in debt up to my neck

Will you overhear me pray for love and for forgiveness?

That way we can always say there's a secret sweetness

Unspoken between us

When you got in the car for Toledo

I took off as fast as I could

Don't indulge me

Don't say baby, one day maybe

You know it ain't no good

And you too can be cruel

And I don't live in no cave

I just sleep in the dark like most people do

Why can't you?

And you too can be cruel

We work in our caves

We live in the dark

And I know you do too, don't you?

If I pulled the wool over your eyes

I pulled it over mine too

So, don't close your eyes while you sing

Don't you know people like me are watching you?

If your faith is strong but fleeting

You will be lonely for most of your life

Hey baby, pretty baby

How about an idle threat?

I'll corner you in the old folks home when I'm not quite dead yet

I'll kick back your wheelchair, kiss your wrinkled forehead

Hand you your last cigarette

How about an idle threat?

Baby I will get you yet

Baby I'll make your live miserable if you don't make me your wife

Or I'll just float through space for the rest of my life

No telescope, I'm gone

Call me Major Tom

Let him go on dear loser

He's gonna catalogue your name

So what, you handed him your body

Stand triumphant in your shame

Make phone call after call

Say man, he didn't know me at all

And anyway you'll only make your life miserable if you bring anyone home

Since you love only half-hearted

You'll always wake up alone

There was no true love tonight

When your distress made you say

This is alright I guess

So when you touch her villainous body do you feel like a fake?

As you look at your lover and your lover looks away

With one shoulder to the wall she says

No that wasn't what I meant at all

I know I'm crazy

I hear the kids outside play and say

Hey lady, hey you old lady

How would you like to pay?

You will someday

I know I'm crazy

I hear the devil at my door

He's throwing bad cards to me saying

Honey would you like some more?

I know you've been down that road before

Honey would you like some more?

Yeah I know I've been down that road before

Honey would you like some more?

Yeah I know I've been down that road before

You know I would love some more