Quiet Desperation

You're sitting on a milk crate mornin' noon and night

Fantisizin' the American dream

You're lookin' pretty good and you've got yourself convinced

That the nightmare isn't as bad as it seems

You try your best to hide yourself beneath your turned up collar

And a plastic bag is all you've got to show

And your books inside your shopping cart

Is probably the best education you're ever gonna know

The guy in the Mercedes is just hollered with the dollar

Better grab it 'cause the signal's turnin' green

And while you're at it, put the jug behind the picket fence

'Cause the cop that's drivin' by sho' looking mean

Institution, contribution, restitution, destitution

Doesn't mean a thing to you now

You're the freeway feature, for your audience are driving by

So maybe you should stand and take a bow

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in antecipation of another day on the street

Sing with me

You're sitting in that same spot you want to go home

But there ain't no home but home on the range

You've forgotten what you look like

And it looks like you've forgotten that

The look inside your eyes is very strange

Ain't nothing left to hide

You're stripped of all your pride

And all you feel inside is a hole a mile wide

You're the freeway desperado and a perfect living model

Of a land that hasn't any good excuse

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation of another day on the street

Sing with me

You're sitting on your milk crate

With your blanket wrapped around you

And I see you sittin' day after day

I'd really like to talk but I know if I approached

You'd probably get up and walk away

You wishing that your home of the American dream

Wasn't only smog and exhaust

I love you desperado and all I've got to say is

You let me know how much I'm really lost

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation of another day on the street

Sing with me

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation of another day on the street

Sing with me