Ho-Boys

Ho-boys! Small army. Beat to a pulp
Keep to ourselves. Recruited from streets to a cult
Itinerants. Power of observation and inference
Between the lines of obstacle and hindrance
Travelers. Cavalier, fearsome, overpowering
Foreigners on the corner of Houston and the Bowery
Dregs of the wasteland, part of an erased plan
Product of the union of a wicked witch and spaceman
Fall collections. Break ‘em down in smaller sections
The Japanese word meaning ‘in all directions’
Unwelcome. No words found
Lower ground’s ours. Homeward bound
It’s a forward sound of war drums and ghost stories
So sorry. The have-nots with the most glory
H. O. - hopping the B. O. - box cars
Up in arms. On top of it. The opposite of rock stars

Hoo-hoo!
Ho-boys!
Get ’em while the going’s good...
Hoo-hoo!
Ho-boys!
Making the record scratch...

Utterly out of touch. Exiled. No one gone
We have no idea what the hell is going on
Outcasted bums, we outlasted angelinas
Demands demean us. Biting the hands that feed us
We kindle wicks. Candles. Bamboozle and swindles tricks
Punchy, wandering the country with bindle sticks
No assurance or health care or welfare
Deep snow and keep going. Try our luck elsewhere...

Hoo-hoo!
Ho-boys!
Get ‘em while the going’s good...
Hoo-hoo!
Ho-boys!
Making the records scratch...

Arms were drawn. In the morning, alarms were on
Home after the war, our families and farms were gone
Half-asleep, stirring all night long during
Waking up in clothing that smells like urine
Yolks over our shoulders, we’re soldiers and drifters
Not looking for a handout, we do beg to differ
Drums of despair, listen. Crumbs in our hair
On the side of the road with our thumbs in the air
Fugitives. Offensive. Convention demolishers
Running with the bulls and unknowns and bone polishers
Career misfits. Rotten apples and beer tickets
Looking for work we smoke snipes and spear biscuits
Scope and frame. Filled with both hope and blame
Rope and chain. Cooking over an open flame
Depressed clown, dressed down, heading for the next town
It’s almost time for me to catch the west bound...

Hoo-hoo!
Ho-boys!
Get ‘em while the going’s good...
Hoo-hoo!
Ho-boys!
Making the records scratch, like this...