stars & rats

well that crooked voice came creaking out

through the frosted glass of a cocktail lounge

well i love your voice

full of salt and oil

stars are burning behind the clouds

rats are running the sidewalks down

well your pitch is loose

and your words are sour

but they pick me up

and they get me going

from the windy streets

through the dusty dawn

to the 79th street bus going home tonight

i was told you had a choice

and your blood was burning again

so i stared past the new dawn

and i did what everyone did

now there's ice in your throat with the radio hissing

as you burn all the breath in your lungs

now the bells will ring and the sun will rise

and the room goes red in my haloed eyes

i'm farther away now but your star is bright

i was told you had a choice

and your blood was burning again

so i stared past the new dawn

and i did what everyone did

but you're stronger than that now

you won't need our hearts again

you can stare down the road you came

goodnight

that's all that there is