Down For the Law

I. Singing happy birthday to a relative One last ride on the catwalk until the signal fades I know I can be weary, it happens all the time It’s just what happens when the mirror breaks, you got to school on time You lost your independence on that day I’m not leaving but I’m not gonna stay Another bill you wracked up with a wrecking ball The crew’s coming for the camera, the group photo opp You’re making him real nervous, you’re meeting the baselines One more fault and the crew comes back to collect on the interest filed Return to the problems stored at home Expired fruit and the freezer’s barely cold I’m not leaving but I’m not coming home So you take for granted the gratuity It can’t hurt a generation to be dignified Who are they to judge - there’s no hapless plan I just plant the evidence, interference with a one-armed man Did you put your soul back up for sale? I’m not leaving but I’m breaking promises II. Some people want day jobs or material things some people want barbecues and go to ball games I think of sleeping dogs under bridges and diamond rings I think of sleeping dogs under bridges and human suffering We’re going up and up and over the wall Reaching down under the counter for the gun The teller was just 21 and he told me his name I said “John, let’s leave this astral plane” My partner took his life down for no reason My partner took his life down with no motive We’re going down for the law III. When our souls met in the white light It blinded my eyes like the surface of the sun Now I’m sitting there as a young boy at IHOP Singing “Jonny what have I done?” Hurtling through space toward all that rainbow and white light In space no one can hear you scream They can’t hear you over the river of tailpipes And I’m still waiting on my dollar silver five But is it ever really over Like really really over The answer is no Nothing ever ends And you still can’t hear me over the rush of the cars Coming up to the gates now I said “John is this is the afterlife?” He said “Gare, there is no after, only life”