Notes From A Brief Engagement (At The Boot & Saddle)

It's hard to sing when I'm holding my breath

I try to get loose, shake out my hands

Drink more, jump up and down

It's hard to sing when I'm holding my breath

I look at the drums

I look at the crowd

Adjust my frames and they slide back down

It's hard to sing when I'm holding my breath

There I am, mining the energy

Digging around for some big, dusty chunk in the dark

Where it's hard to sing and I'm holding my breath

I think of the basement

I sit on the washing machine

I reach into the backpack

I pull out another instrument cable

Because this one is making a weird

It's like

It's too hard to hear now

I'm going outside

I pull up my rain hood

Push past the guys with the yellow eyes

In the bathroom line

It's too hard to hear now

I walk down the block

To the white light of the diner's sign

Where the meeting reconvenes

And the night owls laugh at civilians

It's too hard to hear now

He asks for a dollar

And I motion to the phone to suggest that my call

Is a matter of grave importance

It's too hard to hear now

With the ambulance drone

And the motorbike growl

And the dopplering radios of convertible cars

And the beautiful, beautiful kids from the college

I love you the most

When it seems like you're free

I dare you to tell me in harrowing detail

About how it feels

I am in your palm

I love you the most

It's there in the hard light when you blink at the morning

Back home at the good bar

With the busted PA bumping along

It remembers their names

It holds liquor

I love you the most

You have enough time

You look good in white

You smoke without aging

You still love The Stones

You couldn't have one more bite

I love you the most

You look into the camera

You state your name and age

The lights come on

You pause for effect

You know exactly what to do with your hands