The Hold Steady - Don't Let Me Explode Lyrics

He said what about Los Angeles. She said we never really made it that far west.
We scored big in Denver and we thought it might be best. To go hang around in the upper Midwest.
He said what about New Orleans. She said I don't think you understand what that means.
All those hangers on. The girls lifting up their shirts when the cameras come on.
We were tryna stay away from those kind of scenes.

We didn't go to Dallas. 'Cause Jackie Onassis said that it ain't safe for Catholics yet.
Think about what they pulled on Kennedy.
And then think about his security.
Then think about what they might try to pull on you and me.

Saint Barbara I'm calling your name. Don't let me blow up.
We'll hook it all up. I guess there's fields of speed where there's fields of grain.
Saint Barbara don't let me explode. I can feel the whole scene starting to corrode when we're fooling around on the frontage roads.

He asked what happened to Charlemagne.
She just smiled all polite-like and said something vague.
She said Charlemagne got caught up in some complicated things.
She wiped at her nose and she winked.