traces of the western slopes

we go down round

the far side of the tracks

lolitas playing dominoes and poker

behind their daddy's shacks

vacant-eyes

glue-face boys

on a pearl splashing glass

if they give us any flack

if they come up on our ass

we'll just give 'em the go-by

the cadillac pass

take me now

from the blue and pale room i'd follow

through the faces and the traces of

treasure i keep hearing inside me

madmen throw their voices

from pretty boys

and from the best ones

you pick up connections

as they hand you your directions

to the western slope

i lied to my angel so i could take you downtown

i'd lie to anybody there was nobody else around

and i know what people say about me

but i lied to my angel and now he can't find me

i'm sorry

i saw him

i saw him

laughing

i could hear them

laughing

alive

i could hear them

e. a. poe

and johnny johnson

if you dial in

they're calling from the western slope

who's the thin thread of light

that keeps you strangled in the scenery

that follows my voice - can you see me?

then follow my voice

who raised this banner?

that no one hears - the jack

beneath the axis

digging under the current

someone's trying to get back

but who's qualified to retrieve

the soul's enduring song?

from the grottos of her eyes

and the clashing stars

e. a. poe

and johnny johnson

if you dial in

they're calling from the western slope

who's the thin thread of light

that keeps you strangled in the scenery

that follows my voice - can you see me?

then follow my voice - see me?