It’s 3:00am. I reach cover and turn on the radio. It coughs up noise that reminds me of a soundtrack to a bad dream. The rain is hitting my windshield so hard, I can barely hear the tinny, garbled voices. The cars outside rush by like falling elevators. My headlights catch fleeting images of ghostly faces, Pressed up again glass in silent desperation. I’m lost in the middle of nowhere. But I keep my eyes on the road, And I don’t look back.

You’ve probably seen me hanging around I’m very familiar in this town A day doesn’t go by that I don’t meet A lot of my friends walking down the street I’m never too busy to stop by the way And I’ve always got something pleasant to say Maybe some perceptive thoughts about the weather Or the latest news from Wall Street, whatever. I could stand around all day making small talk Gushing platitudes, blocking the sidewalk Tying people up for hours with ease, My one big talent shooting the breeze When they start to squirm, I really get going But only me happy-face smile is showing Why can’t they see what I’m trying to hide, I’m bustin’ a gut, laughing on the inside It’s in their smile when they say hello I can see they think I’m a little bit slow But after a while with me, they look dazed Their eyes are covered with donut glaze. I really start to cook when I see that look I hit ‘em with every cliché in the book Their knees wobble and they start to weave It’s like they’re begging for permission to leave, They think they’re having a brush with stupidity I don’t laugh, even though it’s killing me Watching them wilt like day old flowers, Ticking off the minutes as they turn into hours They're wondering how much more they can take I give ’em a friendly smile and a handshake We say goodbye so very politely Now say hello to the killer inside me Everybody has their doubts about me sanity But nothing happens ‘cause they all feel sorry for me I’ve got the whole town under my thumb And all I’ve gotta do is keep acting dumb. “Oh that boy Lou,” they say “what a guy” “a little on the slow side but wouldn’t hurt a fly” “and such a gentleman!” “Oh yes I know,” “he sure can talk your ear off though!” I tip my hat and pretend I don’t hear Grinning like a half wit from ear to ear I can think of a thousand ways to say hello So I start through ‘em all, and go real slow. They listen hard, and act like they care How can they be so completely unaware Of the truth the answer is always denied me- So I introduce them to the killer inside me.

(No one can do it better) Damn I hate this job to work in this dump you gotta be a snob everybody gets on my nerves in this place I think I'll take the afternoon off from the rat race an exciting career don't amount to much but a pain in the rear I bust my ass all day for a dollar and then I go home and listen to the kids holler devoted spouse waitin' in the den wants to hit me upside the head with a rolling pin does that ring a bell? a daily routine we all know well I'm makin' more but enjoyin' it less the good life's mainly causin' me stress making a change is difficult but I gotta try to get out of this rut but fear seems to be holdin' me back courage is the principle trait I lack I gotta calm my nerves so I can think I pour myself a nice stiff drink and another this is my usual mode one for the money and ten for the road ah, now everything is clear I gotta get the hell out of here Yes now my mission is plain a Big Mac is calling my name I gotta sample some of Ronald's cooking so I raid my wifes purse when she's not looking pondering the wonderful thing called marriage I accidentally back the car into a baby carriage 'scuse me ma'am I'd love to stay and chat but watch where you're going next time you old bat I hit the gas and zoom down the block leave 'er in the dust yellin' for the cops swervin' round a corner tryin' to steer I get so excited I almost spill my beer a neighbourhood dog is yappin' at my bumper so I slam on the brakes and I hear a big thump I jump the curb and land up on a lawn then I finish my beer and turn the radio on some idiot's goin' on about rehab I grab a brew and yank on the pull tab here comes a little old lady with a shot gun I put the pedal to the metal and she runs digging on my off-road driving power I do a donut in a bed of flowers then I jerk the wheel a little to hard the car rolls over and over on out of the yard (Causin' much destruction) (Act the fool) I come to rest in the middle of the street a bunch of empty beer cans rattlin' at my feet starin' in the window is a nosy little brat I look him in the eyes and say "I meant to do that" then I notice my watch says I'm overdue for my big appointment at the local drive through I do a number on the accelerator and I'm cuttin' in line about thirty seconds later whaddya think this is? some kinda joke? gimme 10 Big Macs and a small diet coke I pull up to the window with my radio playin' I grab the bag and leave without payin' I weave down the road for a block jugglin' a beer and a a styrofoam box pull into a parking lot and kill the motor presently I notice a peculiar odour a little black smoke is risin' from the hood somethings gonna happen and it's probably not good I open the door grab my stuff and go just in time to watch the whole thing blow the car explodes with a bang and a hiss Oh boy, my wife is gonna really like this I can't believe this is happenin' to me this piece of junk's goin' back to the factory this was a blatant attempt on my life everyone will fall for that except my wife but wait a plan begins to emerge I suddenly have an overwhelming urge to spend the night in the great outdoors my suburban lifestyle has become a bore I'll build me a fire and finish my burgers what my wife don't know won't hurt her I leave the scene of the unhappy event resolved to make the most of my predicament a few yards away I feel better I know! I'll write 'er a letter or better yet a ransom demand got your husband send the money understand? or else we'll send his head home in a jar P.S. sorry 'bout the car Yeah, now that ought to really do the trick I'll be gettin' off the hook and she'll be worried sick but really, I'm gonna make it up to you honey I'll buy you a new car with your own damned money I walk a while into the sunset a man, at peace with the world, you bet nothing can diminish my total enjoyment except when I pass my place of employment Damn I hate this job to work in this dump you gotta be a snob everybody gets on my nerves in this place I think I'll take the afternoon off from the rat race (Hard like a criminal)

Stealing down an alley on a cold dark night I see a halo in the rain ‘round a streetlight I stop and look, and listen to the sound As the raindrops penetrate the silence all around Alone, I gaze into the glistening street The distant thunder echoing my heartbeat Urging me on to a secret goal Away from the light from this lamp on a pole So I turn the slip away into the rain Drifting like a spirit through the shadows in the lane Clutching the tools of my trade in my hand An old box of matches and a gasoline can Darkness envelops the scene like a shroud A veil of emptiness hangs from the clouds Filling up the cracks in this desolate place Cradles by the night in an icy embrace Moving through the town like a ghost in the rain A dim reflection in the dark windowpane Blackness beckons from every side Creeping all around like an incoming tide A broken window in an empty house I slip inside and begin to douse The whole place with the fuel that will feel the fire And push back the night taking me higher On out of the darkness in a deafening roar The match in my hand is the key to the door A simple turn of the wrist with suffice To open a passage or paradise I pause, I think about the past in the gloom The smell of gasoline permeates through the room Everyone has a little secret he keeps I light the fires while the city sleeps The match makes a graceful arc to the floor And time stands still as I turn for the door Which explodes in a fireball and throws me to the street I hit the ground running with the flames at my feet Reaching for the night which recoils from the fire The raindrops hiss like a devilish choir Dying the flames with a terrible sound Calling all the names of the sleepers all around But dead in the arms of the night they lay Their dreams sprout wings and fly away Out of the houses in a gathering flock Swarming overhead as I hurry down the block I make my escape with the greatest of ease And safe in the darkness drop to my knees At a lightless window, my hand on the latch I reach in my pocket, and pull out a match

I know you, I know all about you. You see Things that other people don’t see and it Makes you nervous. If your hands would stop Shaking, you’d wipe the cold sweat off your Brow. It’s hard for you to think but you Don’t need to very much because the voices In your head usually tell you what to do. You consider yourself to be invisible and it’s True in a way, because everybody can see Right through you. Other people can even read Your thoughts, although they’ll never Let you know about it for sure. But when you Leave the room, everybody discusses you and Then has a good laugh. You used to have Some friends, but they don’t come around Much anymore; probably because it’s hard for Them to keep a straight face in your presence. When you got out you need to be very careful. Things always seem to happen too fast. If Someone accidentally brushes up against you, you jerk Away in a panic that you foolishly hope no One will notice. When you go into a place Of business and see a security camera, you try To beam pleasant, innocuous thoughts at it. You make a feeble attempt to be nonchalant Until you are out of its range. If you see A book or a magazine, it usually has a picture Of yourself on the cover, one taken by Such a camera. These pictures are skillfully Retouched to look like someone else In order to mock you. You never read books Or magazines because they all contain secret Message hidden in multiple layers of meaning That make you do thing you can’t remember later. Nights are rough. You stay in your apartment When the shades drawn and all the lights off, Watching television. You keep the sound turned Off and try to be very quiet because you Want everyone to think you’re asleep. And All nightlong, a disembodied voice in the Back if your head sings over and over: “Somewhere, there’s a place for us…”

Perfect gun The perfect gun is not visible. The perfect gun exists in the savage state. The perfect gun confers omnipotence. The perfect gun will follow the free tendencies of desire. The perfect gun is like a rosary around the neck. The perfect gun stretches as far as the eyes can see. The perfect gun seeks all your reflected images. The perfect gun is sufficient unto the day. The perfect gun is nothing but a crossroads. The perfect gun keeps its promise for everyone. The perfect gun is a pill dropped in a glass of water. The perfect gun is the household crow. The perfect gun leaves in a shadow of perfume. The perfect gun is an illusion on the surface of memory. The perfect gun is a finger pressing on the controls of a broken machine. The perfect gun is too soft to be honest, and too honest to be true. The perfect gun turns as it pleases toward all horizons. The perfect gun is perfect sadism -- at least as a method. The perfect gun is a flower, hidden by the rough fever of the wind. The perfect gun can be rearranged in all possible combinations. The perfect gun is a beautiful chimera (Perfect!) The perfect gun is an idealist, without taking part in any ideal. The perfect gun takes the shapes and colours of demoralization and confusion (Perfect!) The perfect gun crouches to intercept shadows. The perfect gun is not in the habit of saluting the dead. (Perfect!) The perfect gun will always find buyers. The perfect gun is at most a thinking reed. (Perfect!) The perfect gun has drawn the symbol of the infinite. The perfect gun is not incompatible with a certain nobility of thought (Perfect!) The perfect gun is watching over a blue glass. The perfect gun writes sad and ardent love letters. The perfect gun is a hierarchy, like any other. The perfect gun is a door someone opened. (Perfect!) The perfect gun implies that there are others behind it. The perfect gun is a dark intention. The perfect gun never waits for itself. (Perfect!) The perfect gun is hard, as incredible hammering and no questions underneath. The perfect gun is a reference point. The perfect gun is neither my shadow (Perfect!) nor my double (Perfect!) nor my half (Perfect!) nor another myself (Perfect!) The perfect gun is blood and water level. (Perfect!) The perfect gun is half of a destiny. (Perfect!) The perfect gun has nothing to do before dying. (Perfect!) The perfect gun leaves an exquisite (Perfect!) corpse. (Perfect!) (Perfect!) (Perfect!) (Perfect!) (Perfect!) (Perfect!)

She is benediction She is addicted to thee She is the root connection She is connecting with he Here I go and I don't know why I fell so ceaselessly Could it be he's taking over me? I'm dancing barefoot Heading for a spin Some strange music draws me in Makes me come on like some heroine She is sublimation She is the essence of thee She is concentrating on he The chosen of she Here I go and I don't know why I spin so ceaselessly Could it be he's taking over me? I'm dancing barefoot Heading for a spin Some strange music draws me in Makes me come on like some heroine She is recreation She intoxicated by thee She has the slow sensation That he is levitating with she Here I go and I don't know why I spin so ceaselessly Did I lose my sense of gravity? I'm dancing barefoot In mid-air I spin Some strange music draws me in Makes me come on like some heroine Oh God, I fell for you Oh God, I fell for you Oh God, I fell for you Oh God, I fell for you

You’ve probably seen me hanging around I’m very familiar in this town A day doesn’t go by that I don’t meet A lot of my friends walking down the street I’m never too busy to stop by the way And I’ve always got something pleasant to say Maybe some perceptive thoughts about the weather Or the latest news from Wall Street, whatever. I could stand around all day making small talk Gushing platitudes, blocking the sidewalk Tying people up for hours with ease, My one big talent shooting the breeze When they start to squirm, I really get going But only me happy-face smile is showing Why can’t they see what I’m trying to hide, I’m bustin’ a gut, laughing on the inside It’s in their smile when they say hello I can see they think I’m a little bit slow But after a while with me, they look dazed Their eyes are covered with donut glaze. I really start to cook when I see that look I hit ‘em with every cliché in the book Their knees wobble and they start to weave It’s like they’re begging for permission to leave, They think they’re having a brush with stupidity I don’t laugh, even though it’s killing me Watching them wilt like day old flowers, Ticking off the minutes as they turn into hours They're wondering how much more they can take I give ’em a friendly smile and a handshake We say goodbye so very politely Now say hello to the killer inside me Everybody has their doubts about me sanity But nothing happens ‘cause they all feel sorry for me I’ve got the whole town under my thumb And all I’ve gotta do is keep acting dumb. “Oh that boy Lou,” they say “what a guy” “a little on the slow side but wouldn’t hurt a fly” “and such a gentleman!” “Oh yes I know,” “he sure can talk your ear off though!” I tip my hat and pretend I don’t hear Grinning like a half wit from ear to ear I can think of a thousand ways to say hello So I start through ‘em all, and go real slow. They listen hard, and act like they care How can they be so completely unaware Of the truth the answer is always denied me- So I introduce them to the killer inside me.