strange lot

a faint ghost through the raindrops

pace a frozen train stop

my brain throbs as it wanders to my day job

on my way to the place that i hate most

strange though how i'm still afraid of gettin' laid off

and every day feels the same with a different date

and every face looks as plain as an empty frame

so sick of waitin' for the painter to begin

to paint the plain away

for now a testament to emptiness and

thoughts ricochet

through my fickle pickled brain

rain trickles down the grimace

same image

different name

fault searcher

my soul's an impulse purchase

'round here we serve beer

not purpose

step aside

when i wake up

my mind is full of dread

in the evening

sleep as though i'm dead

i'm so tired

sad and lonely

happy when i'm dreamin' only

i wanna break free

ain't escaping here

'cause i'm tied down

paralyzed in fear

every day's the same but everyone has changed

i can't let it slide

better step aside

we all look so morose

soaked overcoats

hope comatosed

folks know the ropes

don't row the boat

just float

don't delay

don't you go and chase the blown away

umbrella cross the motorway

tell 'em keep a poker face

for the joker's sake

hold your plate steady while we load it up

and smoke your face

pretty while your throat is cut

yeah

things that go bump know what's up

only showing love through the drugs and the modem plug

moments past

only last in photographs

show some gums

fool the picture homie

no

he couldn't give a lonely fuck

so they don't smile they just show their teeth

and sit below the streets on broken rollercoaster seats

with today's valid ticket like this trip is where they're all supposed to be

but don't be difficult

the warning poster's read

and if it all amounts to this

then all aboard and count your chips

a flock of dirty pigeons fightin' over water fountain sips

step aside

when i wake up

my mind is full of dread

in the evening

sleep as though i'm dead

i'm so tired

sad and lonely

happy when i'm dreamin' only

i wanna break free

ain't escaping here

'cause i'm tied down

paralyzed in fear

every day's the same but everyone has changed

i can't let it slide

better step aside

now i could learn to hide a smirk behind a smile

in a nice designer shirt

life of work

buy a pile of dirt

and plant a house in it past the shanty town limits

where the angry crowds picket

pick a hand-me-down image

and be an average bloke

the same person that you know

that hates work but has to go to pay for the back he broke

toilin' in the fields

what's the point of puttin' poison in their meals

when a coin will have them oilin' up the wheels?

for the rich man's chariot they're carrying

a figjam arrogance and shrink-wrapped happiness

same shit

different brand name

same slip

different cash claim

wait

welcome to the day it was rocket science

and watch grey become a ying-yang compromise

throw the canary down the mineshaft

with a gas mask for the last laugh

tip your bar staff

step aside

when i wake up

my mind is full of dread

in the evening

sleep as though i'm dead

i'm so tired

sad and lonely

happy when i'm dreamin' only

i wanna break free

ain't escaping here

'cause i'm tied down

paralyzed in fear

every day's the same but everyone has changed

i can't let it slide

better step aside

and welcome to the day that the daisy chain

breaks from the weight and strain

but everythin' remains the same

and welcome to the day that the painter came

astounded every critic with a thousand different shades of grey

and welcome to the day that the sweat from every brow

was ours to keep and every pawn was proudly crowned a queen

and welcome to the night that while the captain slept

we abandoned ship with our lanterns lit singing

step aside

when i wake up

my mind is full of dread

in the evening

sleep as though i'm dead

i'm so tired

sad and lonely

happy when i'm dreamin' only

i wanna break free

ain't escaping here

'cause i'm tied down

paralyzed in fear

every day's the same but everyone has changed

i can't let it slide

better step aside