Smiles and Grins

Smiles and Grins

(Brown/Bruce)

The smiles on city windows,

It's only the weekly cleaner

The dials on all the faces

Are gradually getting nearer

So make it careful when you can

Forget it if you've read the plan

Call a friend when you're in doubt

Nights are hard when you're locked out

Grins painted on radiators

Are only the teeth of laughter

The numbers of all the victories

Are stenciled on soon after

So don't regret the leaves that fall

Have a little have it all

Take a bit give just as much

Nights are hard without the touch crutch

The smiling suburban collars

They power the city's cisterns

Whenever they pull the trainchain

They gradually start the pistons

So keep your hair on if you can

When you're living in a van

Call a friend when you're in doubt

Nights are hoarse when you're locked out

Grins painted on petrol tigers

Are only the tanks of porter

Statistics of all the campaigns

Are written down on water

So don't regret the cars that rust

Everything must turn to dust

Cultivate and dig your croft

Nights are hard when you've gone soft

Lovers in the dark

Murders in the park

By the silver moon

Blankets from the fear

Cars when roads are near

Winter's much too soon.