Notes From a Brief Engagement (at the Boot And 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