The Hold Steady

Don't tell my sister about your most recent vision
Don't tell my family, they're all wicked strict Christians
Don't tell the hangers-on, don't tell your friends
Don't tell them we went down to Ybor City again

Don't tell the dancers, they'll just get distracted
Don't tell the DJs, they already suspect us
Don't mention the bloodshed, don't mention the skins
Don't tell them Ybor City almost killed us again

We are the theater, they are the people
Dressed up to be seated, looking upwards and dreaming
We're the projectors, we're hosting the screening
We're dust in the spotlights, we're just kind of floating

Don't drop little hints, I don't want them to guess
Don't mention Tampa, they'll just know all the rest
Don't mention bloodshed, don't tell them it hurts
Don't say we saw angels, they'll take us straight to the church

They queue up for tickets to see the performance
They push to get closer, looking upwards with wonder
We are the actors, the cameras are rolling
I'll be Ben Gazzara, you'll be Gina Rowlands

Sometimes actresses get slapped
Sometimes actresses get slapped
Sometimes fake fights turn out bad
Sometimes actresses get slapped

Some nights making it look real
Might end up with someone hurt
Some nights it's just entertainment
And some other nights it's work

They come in for the feeding, sit in stadium seating
They're holding their hands out for the body and blood now
We're the directors, our hands will hold steady
I'll be John Cassavettes, let me know when you're ready

Man, we make our own movies
Man, we make our own movies
Man, we make our own movies
Man, we make our own movies

They used to think it was so cute when she said Dy'er Mak'er
All the boys knew it was a joke about Jamaica
She'd always find a ride back home from the bar

She used to feel so stupid when they'd talk about the music
Born into every single tune
They used to hum against her lips with their hands on her hips
They used to kiss in the car

Dancing days, houses of the holy
Hot child in the city in the middle of the prairie
Flirting with the boys with all her charms

First the laugh, then the eyes
Then the touch him on the arms
Then the drinks, they never seemed to cost money
Saturday night was a runway that extended into Sunday
And sometimes Monday

Back then it was beautiful
The boys were sweet and musical
The laser lights looked mystical
Messed up still felt magical

Girls didn't seem so difficult
Boys didn't seem so typical
It was warm and white and wonderful
We were all invincible

Tired eyes, trampled under foot
Dazed and confused, c-c-c-cocaine blues
She hasn't gotten any eye contact tonight

The boys are getting younger and the bands are getting louder
And the new girls are coming up like some white unopened flowers
She's pretty sure that that's where their power is

Back then it was unified
The punks, the skins, the greaser guys
Then one summer two kids died
One of them was crucified

Now it's so competitive
The sleeplessness and sedatives
I know it sounds repetitive
Every show can't be a benefit

We were kids in the crowd, now we're dogs in this war
We were wasps with new wings, now we're bugs in the jar
We were hot soft and pure, now we're scratched up in scars
We were counting carbs, now we eat in our cars
The boys in the band, they know they'll never be stars

Back then we weren't quite convinced
Flyering and stickering
The front-row girls were posturing
We were all imagining

Man, we had some massive nights
Some bashes and some bloody fights
Back before those two kids died

She's always funny in the morning
She isn't always funny in the night
Once she gets a couple drinks in, she's probably gonna tell you you ain't doing anything right
Then you'll roll your eyes and then you'll probably fight

She mainly trades in adoration
She gets pretty wasted at the celebrations
The benefits and the building dedications

It's always sunny in the morning
It sucks around the ending of the night
When she storms out of the restaurant
I think you're supposed to chase her to the lights

One boy hits her like a tambourine
The other dissing me on her message machine

Magazines and daddy issues
I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you'll still let me kiss you
Magazines and daddy issues
I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you'll still let me kiss you

Magazines and daddy issues
I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you'll still let me kiss you
Magazines and daddy issues
I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you'll still let me kiss you

I hope you'll still let me kiss you

One boy calls while the other texts
She's got boys on board and boys on deck
Second dates and lipstick tissues
New York gets pretty heavy, girl, I hope it doesn't crush you

Magazines and daddy issues
I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you'll still let me kiss you
Second dates and lipstick tissues
New York gets pretty heavy, girl, I hope it doesn't crush you

Magazines and daddy issues
I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you'll still let me kiss you

(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)

I gotta lotta old friends that are gettin' back in touch
And it's a pretty good feelin, yeah it feels pretty good
I get a lotta double-takes when I'm comin' around the corners
And it's mostly pretty nice, yeah it's mostly pretty alright

'Cause most kids give me credit for being down with it
When it was back in the day, back when things were way different
When the Youth of Today and the early 7 Seconds
Taught me some of life's most valuable lessons

There's gonna come a time when the scene'll seem less sunny
It'll probably get druggy and the kids'll seem too skinny
There's gonna come a time when she's gonna have to go
With whoever's gonna get her the highest

There's gonna come a time when the true scene leaders
Forget where they differ and get big picture
'Cause the kids at the shows, they'll have kids of their own
The sing-along songs will be our scriptures

(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive

(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive

When the chaperone crowned us the king and the queen
I knew that we'd arrived at a unified scene
And all those little lambs from my dreams
Well, they were there too

'Cause it's one thing to start it with a positive jam
And it's another thing to see it all through
And we couldn't have even done this if it wasn't for you

(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive

(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
We gotta stay positive

She says sometimes she sees these things
Right before they're happening
Hail Mary, full of grace
Some nights she swears she feels her face

She's known a couple of boys that died
And two of them were crucified
And the last one had enlightened eyes
The first guy he was Jesus Christ

Hey Judas
I know you've made a grave mistake
Hey Peter
You've been pretty sweet since Easter break

Now she's 4am and she's wide awake
She's shivering and smiling

Let's clutch and kiss and sing and shake
Tonight let's try to levitate
You Catholic girls start much too late
Baby, let's transverberate
Baby, let's transverberate

She saw all the footage right before it got cut
She saw all the bodies and she saw all the blood
She saw the angel put a sword in his side
And baby, that's how we got canonised

She saw him gushing blood right before he got cut
She saw them put a body in a bag in the trunk
She saw the guys coming in from the sides
And baby, that's how we get energized

She said, "You know I'm down to pay for it."
She said, "Just grant me some indulgences.
'Cause I've been mostly dying and I've been mostly coughing.
And I've been mostly crying and I've been thinking about both crosses."

She saw the film right before it came out
At first she thought Judas might go for the mouth
And she saw the nails and she saw the hands
She saw the crowd, she heard the band

The new kid begged them not to do it
And Jesus just said, "Hey I still love you Judas"
Since you've been up in Massachussets
I keep dreaming about dos cruces

I've been thinking about both crosses
And I've been dreaming about dos cruces
Yeah, I've been thinking about both crosses

Yeah, Sapphire
I'm sick and I'm tired and I'm fried and you gotta believe me
Yeah, Sapphire
If I cross myself when I come would you maybe receive me?

Yeah, Sapphire
You were feisty at first but I broke you and I showed you the tempo
Sacramento
It swung at us first but it ended up going down gentle

Sapphire, if Cheyenne's too small
We'll haul it all back to St. Paul
I was just about to call you
When you called

Yeah, Sapphire
I know the last time we touched I came on a bit rough, please forgive me
Yeah, Sapphire
After you left, it was a big sketchy mess, they almost killed me

Sapphire, if Cheyenne's too small
We'll haul it all back to St. Paul
I was just about to call you
When you called

Sapphire, if St. Paul don't call
We've always got Aberdeen
'Cause dreams they seem to cost money
But money costs some dreams

It went just as you predicted
I swear there must be something in your dreams
It all went down exactly like your visions
And I know you said don't call until I'm clean

I'm not drunk, I'm cut, I'm gushing blood
And I need someone to come and pick me up

I was a skeptic at first, but these miracles work
I was a skeptic at first, but these miracles work
I was a skeptic at first, but these miracles work
I was a skeptic at first, but these miracles work

Lord, I'm discouraged
The circles have sucked in her eyes
Lord, I'm discouraged
Her new friends have shadowed her life
Lord, I'm discouraged
She ain't come out dancing for some time

And I'm trying to light candles
But they burn down to nothing
And she keeps coming up with

Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
There's a house on the south side
Where she stays in for days at a time

I know I'm no angel
I ain't been bad that way
Can't you hear her?
She's that sweet missing songbird
When the choir sings on Sundays
And I'm almost busted
But I bought back the jewelry she sold

And I come to your altar
And then there's just nothing
And she keeps insisting

The sutures and bruises are none of my business
She says that she's sick, but she won't get specific
The sutures and bruises are none of my business
This guy from the north side comes down to visit
His visits, they only take five or six minutes

Lord, I'm sorry to question your wisdom
But my faith has been wavering
Won't you show me a sign
And let me know that you're listening?

Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
I know it's unlikely she'll ever be mine
So I mostly just pray she don't die

I guess I met a couple bona fide angels
But they all seemed kind of fat and fatigued
And now we're trying to match their mouths from the screens
Match their heads to their dreams

Everybody's searching out of the softest seat
All dolled up for the funeral feast
Everybody's stabbing at the biggest piece
Clever kids kissing on a bleak retreat

Now I'm not really sure we were lovers
Or if it was just some kind of car crash
Now we're trying to find a DNA match
To match the heads with our hats

Everybody's reaching for the sharpest knife
Legs wide open on the opening night
Everybody's bathing in the laser lights
Clever kids screwing with some new device

Sunday morning, sidewalks splattered
Feverish in stylish tatters
Didn't this used to sting like grammar?
I remember when it mattered

Can't get over what's transpired
Left home virgins, came back vampires
Belt it out like back stretched choirs
We're either dead or really tired

Everybody's coming on their navy sheets
Everybody's coming on their navy sheets
Everybody wants to suck on something sweet
Everybody's coming on their navy sheets

Everybody's coming on their navy sheets

When there weren't any parties she'd park by the quarry
Walk into the woods until she came to a clearing
Where townies would gather and drink until blackout
Smoke cigs 'till they're sick, pack bowls and then pass out

Windows wide open to let the hard rock in
Theirs was a rage that didn't need much convincing
The girls gave her glares but the boys were quite pleasant
To be perfectly honest, they didn't seem much different

When there weren't any parties
Sometimes she'd party with townies

Out on the parkways after the parties
It was always arousing when they'd rev up their engines
It's hard to describe so she kept it a secret
The girls that she lived with, they knew nothing about it

The night with the fight and the butterfly knife
Was the first night she spent with that one guy she liked
She gave him a ride to some kid's house in Cleveland
He stayed there for two weeks, the cops finally found him

He didn't seem that different except for that blood on his jacket
He didn't seem that different except for maybe his haircut
He didn't seem much different

They didn't seem that different up until this one little incident
They didn't seem much different

Now the cops want to question everyone present
They parade every townie in town through the station
But no one says nothing and they can't find the weapon
The girl takes the stand and she swears she was with him
Her father's lawyers do most of the talking

She's sick of the questions, sick of the concept
Of justice and fairness, who the hell cares
Who gets caught in the middle?
She smokes and she ponders this riddle

When one townie falls in the forest, can anyone hear it?
When one townie falls
When one townie falls in the forest, does anyone notice?

One drop of blood on immaculate Keds
Mom, do you know where your girl is?
Sophomore accomplice in a turtleneck sweater
Dad, do you know where your kids are?

Sniffing at crystal in cute little cars
Getting nailed against dumpsters behind townie bars
It's a cute little town with streets and cafes
Her friends all seemed nice, she was getting good grades

But when she came home for Christmas
She just seemed distant and different

It started when we were dancing
It got heavy when we got to the bathroom
We didn't go back to her place
We went to some place where she cat-sits

She said, "I know I look tired
But every thing's fried here in Memphis"

Now they want to know exactly which bathroom
Dude, does it make any difference? It can't be important
Yeah, sure I'll tell my story again

In bar light she looked alright
In daylight she looked desperate
That's alright, I was desperate too
I'm getting pretty sick of this interview

Subpoenaed in Texas
Sequestered in Memphis
Subpoenaed in Texas
Sequestered in Memphis

I think she drove a new Mustang
I guess it might be a rental
I remember she had satellite radio
I guess she seemed a bit nervous, do you think I'm that stupid?

Oh what the hell, I'll tell the story again

In bar light she looked alright
In daylight she looked desperate
That's alright, I was desperate too
I'm getting pretty sick of this interview

Subpoenaed in Texas
Sequestered in Memphis
Subpoenaed in Texas
Sequestered in Memphis

(Subpoenaed in Texas)
(Sequestered in Memphis)
(Subpoenaed in Texas)
(Sequestered in Memphis)

I went there on business
(Subpoenaed in Texas)
(Sequestered in Memphis)

I went there on business
(Subpoenaed in Texas)
(Sequestered in Memphis)

I went there on business
(Subpoenaed in Texas)
(Sequestered in Memphis)

I went there on business
(Subpoenaed in Texas)
(Sequestered in Memphis)

Me and my friends are like
The drums on "Lust for Life"
We pound it out on floor toms
Our psalms are sing-along songs

This old town is lifeless
Been that way our whole lives, just
Work at the mill until you die
Work at the mill and then you die

We're gonna build something this summer
(Gonna build something this summer)

We'll put it back together
Raise up a giant ladder
With love and trust and friends and hammers
(This summer!)

We're gonna lean this ladder
Up against the water tower
Climb up to the top and drink and talk
(This summer!)

Me and my friends are like
Double whiskey coke no ice
We drink along in double time
Might drink too much but we feel fine

We're gonna build something this summer

Summer grant us all the power
To drink on top of watertowers
With love and trust and shows all summer
(Get hammered!)

Let this be my annual reminder
That we could all be something bigger

I went to your schools. I did my detention
But the walls were so gray that I couldn't pay attention
I read your gospel, it moved me to tears
But I couldn't find the hate and I couldn't find the fear

I met your saviour, I knelt at his feet
And he took my ten bucks and he went down the street
I tried to believe all the things that you said
But my friends that aren't dying are already dead

Raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer
I think he might have been our only decent teacher
Getting older makes it harder to remember
We are our only saviours
We're gonna build something this summer