The Walkmen - Subterranean Homesick Blues Lyrics

Johnny's in the basement mixing
Up the medicine i'm on the pavement thinking
About the government
The man in the trench coat, badge out
Laid off says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off

Look out, kid, it's something you did
God knows when, but you're doing it again
You better duck down the alleyway
Looking for a new friend
The man in the coonskin cap by the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills, you only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talking that the heat put plants
In the bed but the phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the DA

Look out, kid, don't matter what you did
Walk on your tiptoes, don't try No Doz
Better stay away from those that
Carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose, watch the plainclothes
You don't need a weatherman to know
Which way the wind blows

Get sick, get well, hang around the inkwell
Ring bell
Hard to tell if anything is gonna sell
Try hard, get barred, get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army if you fail

Look out, kid, you're gonna get hit
By losers, cheaters, six-time users
Hanging 'round the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool's looking
For a new fool don't follow leaders
Watch the parking meters

Get born, keep warm, short pants, romance
Learn to dance, get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy
Gifts, don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schooling and they put
You on the day shift
Look out, kid, they keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals
Don't want to be a bum, you better chew gum
The pump don't work 'cause the
Vandals took the handles