Citizen King

well there's a spit shine avalanche keepin' one way
headin' toward the light bright alleyway
the beard blew off the dandelion face
and left a 24 karat button in its place
the chain steering wheel boomerangs rom the junkyard
hard rolling but rolling on the real hard turf
for what it's worth another dent for another tent
so i'm going down jalopy style if i'm going down
i roll the fur dice playing with the lowlife
i travel light i travel proud and when i rock the box i rock the box loud

bumping and rolling no stopping for red now
wheeling and dealing just stretching the bread now
i'm hatchin' the gold mine spreading the fever
take it all over jalopy style

got the rumble seat bleach with the ruckus on ready
givin' him the finger with a beep like jerry
takin' the trip hit bricks to the sticks on the macrame heyday seven mile itch
the whitewalls hit the deck from bionic on the low-fi jeep beat sonic turf
for what it's worth

I'm fixing this mix up
from bumper to beat
just rollin' on just rollin' on
kalaka my way down on nickel bag street
just rollin' on

it's up in the air an escalator away a comma into the phrase another
every
ticket to
ugly
face while i wear i waste my time marinade and skip again i'll be doing
pay well i can't see where this is going again because i'm behind with
fine
line that i'm in single file in the pile calgon take me away smile on the
in the meantime 'til the next time i'm waiting in the checkout line liquid
a


crystal display turning a year and a day a special light for the blues on
last
big holiday well i can't see where this is going again because i'm dead
boomarang on the
exchange
paper or plastic today while i'm checking in at the checkout
with every line that begins register's on the edge with a one-way
dime drop stop just passing by just passing by

(It goes a little something like, like, like this.)

In my shoes
My toes are busted
My kitchen says
My bread is molded
Got a good job
At the dollar store

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
With a broken mirror
And a blown out speaker
I ain't got much else to lose

I'm faded, flat busted
Been jaded I been dusted
I know that I've seen better days

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out


Now my cup's filled up with five buck wine
Find myself here all the time
Another rip in the glass
Another chip in my tooth
Rained on I've been stained on
Found another goat I tried to put the blame on
Now I'm steppin on all the cracks
So I guess there ain't no use

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

(like my Gucci bag?)
(That's beautiful, beautiful)

I'm bent like glass
Second hand like glory
Missed the bus but I'm in no hurry
Molasses fast no business born

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
I've seen better days


I know that I've seen better days
I've been the star
Of so many plays
Walked on the edge with that hobo way
'Cause I know
I know that I've seen better
Better days

(Now I'm real thirsty)

(It goes a little something like, like, like this.)

In my shoes
My toes are busted
My kitchen says
My bread is molded
Got a good job
At the dollar store

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
With a broken mirror
And a blown out speaker
I ain't got much else to lose

I'm faded, flat busted
Been jaded I been dusted
I know that I've seen better days

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out


Now my cup's filled up with five buck wine
Find myself here all the time
Another rip in the glass
Another chip in my tooth
Rained on I've been stained on
Found another goat I tried to put the blame on
Now I'm steppin on all the cracks
So I guess there ain't no use

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

(like my Gucci bag?)
(That's beautiful, beautiful)

I'm bent like glass
Second hand like glory
Missed the bus but I'm in no hurry
Molasses fast no business born

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
I've seen better days


I know that I've seen better days
I've been the star
Of so many plays
Walked on the edge with that hobo way
'Cause I know
I know that I've seen better
Better days

(Now I'm real thirsty)

(It goes a little something like, like, like this.)

In my shoes
My toes are busted
My kitchen says
My bread is molded
Got a good job
At the dollar store

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
With a broken mirror
And a blown out speaker
I ain't got much else to lose

I'm faded, flat busted
Been jaded I been dusted
I know that I've seen better days

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out


Now my cup's filled up with five buck wine
Find myself here all the time
Another rip in the glass
Another chip in my tooth
Rained on I've been stained on
Found another goat I tried to put the blame on
Now I'm steppin on all the cracks
So I guess there ain't no use

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

(like my Gucci bag?)
(That's beautiful, beautiful)

I'm bent like glass
Second hand like glory
Missed the bus but I'm in no hurry
Molasses fast no business born

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
I've seen better days


I know that I've seen better days
I've been the star
Of so many plays
Walked on the edge with that hobo way
'Cause I know
I know that I've seen better
Better days

(Now I'm real thirsty)

(It goes a little something like, like, like this.)

In my shoes
My toes are busted
My kitchen says
My bread is molded
Got a good job
At the dollar store

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
With a broken mirror
And a blown out speaker
I ain't got much else to lose

I'm faded, flat busted
Been jaded I been dusted
I know that I've seen better days

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out


Now my cup's filled up with five buck wine
Find myself here all the time
Another rip in the glass
Another chip in my tooth
Rained on I've been stained on
Found another goat I tried to put the blame on
Now I'm steppin on all the cracks
So I guess there ain't no use

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

(like my Gucci bag?)
(That's beautiful, beautiful)

I'm bent like glass
Second hand like glory
Missed the bus but I'm in no hurry
Molasses fast no business born

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
I've seen better days


I know that I've seen better days
I've been the star
Of so many plays
Walked on the edge with that hobo way
'Cause I know
I know that I've seen better
Better days

(Now I'm real thirsty)

(It goes a little something like, like, like this.)

In my shoes
My toes are busted
My kitchen says
My bread is molded
Got a good job
At the dollar store

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
With a broken mirror
And a blown out speaker
I ain't got much else to lose

I'm faded, flat busted
Been jaded I been dusted
I know that I've seen better days

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out


Now my cup's filled up with five buck wine
Find myself here all the time
Another rip in the glass
Another chip in my tooth
Rained on I've been stained on
Found another goat I tried to put the blame on
Now I'm steppin on all the cracks
So I guess there ain't no use

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

(like my Gucci bag?)
(That's beautiful, beautiful)

I'm bent like glass
Second hand like glory
Missed the bus but I'm in no hurry
Molasses fast no business born

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
I've seen better days


I know that I've seen better days
I've been the star
Of so many plays
Walked on the edge with that hobo way
'Cause I know
I know that I've seen better
Better days

(Now I'm real thirsty)

it's up in the air an escalator away a comma into the phrase another
every
ticket to
ugly
face while i wear i waste my time marinade and skip again i'll be doing
pay well i can't see where this is going again because i'm behind with
fine
line that i'm in single file in the pile calgon take me away smile on the
in the meantime 'til the next time i'm waiting in the checkout line liquid
a


crystal display turning a year and a day a special light for the blues on
last
big holiday well i can't see where this is going again because i'm dead
boomarang on the
exchange
paper or plastic today while i'm checking in at the checkout
with every line that begins register's on the edge with a one-way
dime drop stop just passing by just passing by

billyhilly he's the king of the hill billhilly he hits
the sour mash swill billhilly he made it off the
farm he's kickin' up dirt out on the loose he
haw ha chewin' on roots always down on
and he ain't comin' back do the do se do
he milks a cow he's going far in the land of
the chicken shack he's leavin' for the city
with the off road know how cops a feel like
moon swill life of the party buck knife rowdy
slappin' his knee like laurel slapped hardy
do-se-do on a concrete lotion he put it all in
steel got everybody talkin' about the full
motion jumpin' the barbed wire hoppin' the
like jed clampett jumped the claim billhilly is
his name he's never meaning no harm yank
pool flintstone brakes using john deere tools


square dance hoedown rodeo and a bucket
out the plug he's strummin' on a banjo a lot
full of rocks passing the jug and the catfish
teeth with an old switchblade loogie to the
crock-pot hayseed with a gun like a trumpet
dew can 20 feet away from the coal mine to
barefoot drinking from a dixie cup picking his
the combine ransack the shack and treat the
girls fine day-in day-out always looking up
sounds now everybody on the block ain't
wearin no shoes ain't wearin no socks got
when he takes downtown making soo-ee
billy and his jug band play the itch for the mountain way watchin' old

you got the sideways grip i'm about to flip your backdrop dizzy spell puttin'
dents in the padlock cold defying the laws of slingshot a white picket fence
to separate the stones you stand on before the tide comes in on the early dawn
the light bulb spins on the horn rims you blister in the sun you're just a
salt bag spill another salt bag spill cause it's a green jean battle from the
we're the cream of the crop and you're the cream of the corn crash collide and
burlap i break your ribs and it's full contact vagabonds you start a war but
no good comeback flash in the pan like a burnt short stack but we've got the


splinters pepper in the jar gettin' served that dinner slam you like a screen
i'm pitching my fork in mr. rourke you get the trap door with sawdust
door keepin' out the terminal condition you get the oatmeal bath you're out of
butter to let your mud slide you're slippin' on down for the test of time so
in a bucket that's ringing with laughter commission you're tarred and feathered and covered in lacquer and your head's

where i come from stealing's like giving
of the week at the fat lace pace i race the
make a robin hood living eight days out
ease back disorderly conduct in a
catatonic state of relax in the brass
knuckle turnbuckle i drink the daydream
than before what about it what can you
up all night on a cloud getting even louder
i drink and drink before i speak
do closed for the weekend speak before


developments arrested by speech and no
for the weekend saturday and sunday too
neighbors next door might as well lay off
action noise complaints from the
the bell cause i won't turn it down closed
when monday comes a two-day wait with a one-room view on
the freeze for a stunt turn on the green

tight shoes stepping light bending over to go under find your seat on the kitchen floor at first
glance 20/20 take your chance maybe not with a spruce goose on patrol from the shackle to the
snap pop crackle on the out on the inside space to fill silly rabbit just donÆt have it playing tricks
for the fix and the green tea over the hill curiosity getting over like fat cat in the hole coming five
days late with a secret hand shake and the dogÆs reaching for the bone sweet tooth in candyland

or the worst case scenario who needs a skeleton key superpower on the hunt take your box


brady bunch check the cap see if youÆre a winner Æcause itÆs a parachute drop coming down
when itÆs over to the same old swanson dinner coming in through the back Æcause i never had the
knack with that hole in my back pocket silver dragon golden road but that fortune cookie never
told it never told you nothing

through the tin pan alley in the dead of the
to the front door what's left behind when the
backyard kitchen on an a team mission to get
night riding that crazy horse through the
morn' it's a long walk home kickin' dirt and
sun does shine is passed out on the floor i'm
stones it's a long walk home when you're
coming down easy it's a long walk home on
you're coming down easy with gum on my
going to lay my head down before Sunday


shoe nothing left to do stranded and still
awake good company is the street i seek and
the trail that i blaze when the cock crows and
the streets i roam it's a long walk home when
the warm winds blow i'll skip-to-my-lou 'til the
sky turns blue and i'm going to lay my head
back over cross the milky way again down before sunday morn' make my way

M...
I...
L...
K...
Y-Y-Y-Y...
W...
A...
Y...

Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Milwaukee
A happy place to be.

on the run like a bandit i'm on the loose now you eat the dust and you taste the puppy chow this ain't no standstill hold up captain crunch a desperado i take you out to lunch i'll gank your milk money honey it's a royal treatment no tracks out back in the wet cement a broke tooth and a phone booth and a change of clothes 'cause everyone knows i get mean in the smoke screen half time going on the crime scene operation down low you call your hero but like sweetback i got no afro i'm coming dark creepin' in your alley watch your eyes as i make a quick getaway gonna trap me slingshot happy spider web window with a fatal blow

this is the place you face the music i demonstrate an
rush the show to the underground spot from p.m. to a.m.
you are and i am choking on smoke below the coliseum
not soft shoe 'cause i wear the new dance scoping the
check one two feedback shellac about to break on
altered state with the blacklight shining on the boombox i
through broadcast by a radio station low downstairs at
girls with the shrinky dink pants milk crate steady mic
the basement show mark the x on the party map a flying
rap take a five-finger deal on the silver tap i pull my hat
v peavy sonic attack the cops are here if you believe the


down take the stairs down getting together in with the
everybody in the bathroom line robot moves on a wild
out crowd you got the beer we got the time i'm skipping
i'm keeping it on going all night long clearing the six-foot
rumpus standing up front where the stacks is thumpin' so
come late to the masquerade to the sweatbox dirty
on the front lawn a bottleneck check your mic marinade i
kneesocks and i'm
going through the back when the front door's locked

"Everything you do is for music."

Now out past the cast of boredom
Cards get dealt i sift and sort them
Table rooftops coming down
Wooden nickels lost and found
Apple pie i'm eating cake now
Coming to the table late now
Juke joint fights and diamond lights
Immune to poision ivy snake bites
Batteries from start to chuck
Got the outer limits voodoo luck
Stand by on a highball holiday
Served fresh from a plastic tray

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence tonight

Well, on the concrete on the glass
Beyond the neon green bus pass
Nowhere fast is where I'm going
Like a crack that's slowly leaking juice on the floor
Do a little less i take a little more time
Day to day and eye to eye
When these walls become alive
When these walls become alive

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence tonight

Now the sparkle helmet spins around
Midnight streak in a twist top town
Crystal clear through amber glasses
Bad with names but worse with faces
Zig zag wander on the swerve
Transparent mason dixon curves
I've got more nerve than a tiki torch in a quiet storm
So I'm searchin' for the third kind
Blast off and cut the cord
Blast off and cut the cord

"Fascinating."

"The time has come to go out of your mind."

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence tonight

I'm under the influence tonight
I'm under the influence.

"I don't like to hurt nobody's feelings."

You put me down with a stick
You got that safety pin grip
You know me like you know ice on a fire

Dust myself off with a spoon
You shot your darts at the moon
and this piece didn't tear too soon

Now it's dust the rubber burns peeling out behind the wheel
And you're looking for the holes that I don't have
Caught on underneath my heel, but now I'm moving on
Move-moving on from your safety pin

Inside the scoop outside the rage
Mothballs galore caught in the drain
Your hat's on tight like super glue

You dug the pit you stepped in it
And now you're out with the prick
You're going down without this ship

Now it's dust the rubber burns peeling out behind the wheel
And you're looking for the holes that I don't have
Caught on underneath my heel, but now I'm moving on
Move-moving on from your safety, from your safety, from your safety pin

You put me down with a stick
You got that safety pin grip
You know me like you know ice on a fire

Now it's dust the rubber burns peeling out behind the wheel
And you're looking for the holes that I don't have
Caught on underneath my heel, and now I'm moving on
Move-moving on from your safety pin
Move-moving on from your safety pin, yeah I'm moving on
Move-moving on from your safe-safety pin
Y-Y-Yo-Y-Y-Your safe-safety pin
Your safety pin.

(It goes a little something like, like, like this.)

In my shoes
My toes are busted
My kitchen says
My bread is molded
Got a good job
At the dollar store

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
With a broken mirror
And a blown out speaker
I ain't got much else to lose

I'm faded, flat busted
Been jaded I been dusted
I know that I've seen better days

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out


Now my cup's filled up with five buck wine
Find myself here all the time
Another rip in the glass
Another chip in my tooth
Rained on I've been stained on
Found another goat I tried to put the blame on
Now I'm steppin on all the cracks
So I guess there ain't no use

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

(like my Gucci bag?)
(That's beautiful, beautiful)

I'm bent like glass
Second hand like glory
Missed the bus but I'm in no hurry
Molasses fast no business born

One foot in the hole
One foot gettin' deeper
Crank it to eleven
And blow another speaker
And I ain't got much to lose

'Cause I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
And the bottom drops out

I've seen better days
Been the star of many plays
I've seen better days
I've seen better days


I know that I've seen better days
I've been the star
Of so many plays
Walked on the edge with that hobo way
'Cause I know
I know that I've seen better
Better days

(Now I'm real thirsty)

"Everything you do is for music."

Now out past the cast of boredom
Cards get dealt i sift and sort them
Table rooftops coming down
Wooden nickels lost and found
Apple pie i'm eating cake now
Coming to the table late now
Juke joint fights and diamond lights
Immune to poision ivy snake bites
Batteries from start to chuck
Got the outer limits voodoo luck
Stand by on a highball holiday
Served fresh from a plastic tray

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence tonight

Well, on the concrete on the glass
Beyond the neon green bus pass
Nowhere fast is where I'm going
Like a crack that's slowly leaking juice on the floor
Do a little less i take a little more time
Day to day and eye to eye
When these walls become alive
When these walls become alive

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence tonight

Now the sparkle helmet spins around
Midnight streak in a twist top town
Crystal clear through amber glasses
Bad with names but worse with faces
Zig zag wander on the swerve
Transparent mason dixon curves
I've got more nerve than a tiki torch in a quiet storm
So I'm searchin' for the third kind
Blast off and cut the cord
Blast off and cut the cord

"Fascinating."

"The time has come to go out of your mind."

I've been 'round and up and down
Overboard when the ship came down
Out of mind and sight in the strobophonic light
I'm under the influence tonight

I'm under the influence tonight
I'm under the influence.