14th Street Ritual

Lyrics

Never for a breath of my invisible life Have I held 'sacred' As a ritual through these criminal nights 7th Street February bleeds pitiful sights Bar-hoppin' clear over these continual fights Anything might help a brother in/brother out Cigarette hanging like a fish hook in my mouth Brother can't walk how he walk When he's walking down the block when it's dark 'Cause he look like a suspect Give me everything you Got- to get over I drink to the straight edge that can't think sober If yer guzzling gasoline/ pet the machine Or spread-eagle out in some Arizona ravine Fire painted on your eyelids instead of your dreams Well it's Nothing that the Congress Hotel ain't seen Working-class-queen wears her hairnet crown Full of rubies, gold lace, sapphires on down Pennies in the tip jar make the same sound As the mop and the dustpan that harmonize now with Excuses from them useless two-bit clowns Ain't nobody laughing at a sad, sad joke 'Cause a bent spoke 'round here will keep us all broke I've sat with a pole waitin' for somethin' ta bite But never For a breath Of my invisible life Have I spoken with venom or ended a sentence with: "I ain't the replica that you're used to doing business with!" Shuffle the deck I'll give you 52 chances To pull five aces from my hands quick I'm Only good for a cheap thrill Cashing in refills or Killing my heat bills Suckin' on smoke Runnin' on free meals to Conquer these steep hills Let's see how between feels Busted and broke Rusted and old parts; antennas and bear hearts Grease for the axel rod and keys to the cattle prod Slangin' fish bait on the corner like mix-tapes With Bow-legged Eddie so faded, can't piss straight Six days in car Don't know how many more or Where the hell that we are Got them stars in your eyes like a Hollywood doubtful Dreamin' 'bout fame while they get paid by the mouth full Household of patient's Household of living patient's Out go the vagrants Out cold, you people waitin' for what? A pat on the back, a kick in the shins? A trick or treat with no costume? A Thanksgiving grin? Drank rooftop gin while New York had no lights Something 'bout the red rain ain't rubbing me right