A Complication

Working on living

I’m working on leaving

I’m working on leaving the living

grass looks much greener but it’s green-painted cement

the mayor’s machines are there cleaning the pavement

you can’t make dirt clean so we’ll just lemon-scent it

Whenever I breath out, you’re breathing it in

The Devil’s apprentice he gave me some credit

He fed me a line and I’ll probably regret it

I don’t want you to be alone down there

To be alone down there, to be alone

I like this

My hell comes from inside, comes from inside myself

Why fight this

Everyone’s afraid of their own lives

If you could be anything you want

I bet you’d be disappointed, am I right?

I know that starting over is not what life’s about. 

But my thoughts were so loud I couldn’t hear my mouth. 

My thoughts were so loud I couldn’t hear my mouth. 

My thoughts were so loud.

And God I love that rock and roll! 

Well the point was fast but it was too blunt to miss. 

Life handed us a paycheck, we said, “We worked harder than this!” 

If life’s not beautiful without the pain, 

well I’d just rather never ever even see beauty again. 

Well as life gets longer, awful feels softer. 

And it feels pretty soft to me. 

Life it rents us. 

And yeah I hope it put plenty on you. 

Well I hope mine did too. 

I wasn’t always cargo

I was once kind of my own

It was always worth it

That’s the part I seem to hide

Who the hell made you the boss

If you say what to do I know what not to stop

If you were the ship then who would ever get on

The weather changed it for the worse

And came down on us like it had been rehearsed

And like we hope, but change will surely come

And be awful for most but really good for some

I took a trip to the exact same spot

We pulled the trigger, but we forgot to cock

And every single shot

Aw, fuck it I guess we lost

Who the hell made you the boss?

We placed our chips in all the right spots

But still lost

Any shithead who had ever walked

Could take the ship and do a much finer job

This fit like clothes made out of wasps

Aw, fuck it I guess I lost

There’s no work in walking in to fuel the talk

I would grab my shoes and then away I’d walk

Through all the stubborn beauty I start at the dawn

Until the sun had fully stopped

Never walking away from

Just a way to pull apart

Dehydrate back into minerals

A life long walk to the same exact spot

Tags: Modest Mouse

We’ve Got Everything

“We’ve Got Everything”

We’ve got everything

We’ve got everything down to a science so I guess we know everything 
We know everything was built to expire so I guess we’ve done everything 
If we carried it out to sea 
Pushed it over the edge we’d have all been through, 
Well first off Gary got drunk fell asleep in his car til about noon
Flat Top Tony got all messed up split his lip chasing cheap perfume
Well look at our boat in the bay it looks like some sad ass little canoe
We’ve done everything like trial by fire so I guess we’ll stop trying now
We’ve tried everything half assed and as liars and thats how we’ve got everything
If we carried it out to sea pushed it over the edge we could have all been through
Well no one even bothered showin’ up but we still did what we should have thought through
We crashed in like waves into the stars
Didn’t want it didn’t need it but we knew that we
Could see it so we opened up the door
We receded like waves out of the stars
Didn’t want it didn’t need it but we knew that we could steal it left it dying on the
Floor 
We’ve got everything
We’ve got everything down to a science so I guess we know everything
We’ve got everything

Tags: Modest Mouse

Fire It Up

“Fire It Up”

  It’s never enough

 

Fire it up, fire it up
When we finally turn it over
Make a B-line towards the border
Have a drink, you’ve had enough

Fire it up, fire it up
If you need some conversation
Bring a magazine to read around
Our broke down transportation

Fire it up
It’s never enough

Fire it up, fire it up
When we find the perfect water
We’ll hang out on the shore
Just long enough to leave our clothes there

Fine enough, fine enough
Oh we ate all of the oranges
Off the navels of our lovers
Grabbed a book and read the cover

It honestly was beautifully done
Like trying to hide the daylight from the sun
But even if we had been sure enough it’s true we really didn’t know
Even if we knew which way to head but still we probably wouldn’t go

Fire it up, fire it up
We pushed off we’re rolling boulders
Crashing down the mirrored stairways
Two of life’s best mine canaries

Fire it up, fire it up
When we fix the carburetor
Then we’ll push off once again
In an hour or so later

It honestly was beautifully bold
Like trying to save an ice cube from the cold
But even if we had been sure enough it’s true we really didn’t know
Even if we knew which way to head but still we probably wouldn’t go

Well we always had it all 

Tags: Modest Mouse

The Good Times


“The Good Times Are Killing Me”

The good times are killing me. 
Here we go! 

Got dirt, got air, got water and I know you can carry on. 
Shrug off shortsighted false excitement and oh what can I say? 
Have one, have twenty more “one mores” and oh it does not relent. 

The good times are killing me. 

Kick butt buzz-cut dickheads 
who didn’t like what I said. 
The good times are killing me. 
Jaws clenched tight we talked all night, 
oh but what the hell did we say? 
The good times are killing me. 

The good times are killing me. 
The good times are killing me. 

Fed up with all that LSD. 
Need more sleep than coke or methamphetamines. 
Late nights with warm, warm whiskey. 
I guess the good times they were all just killing me. 

Got dirt, got air, got water and I know you can carry on. 
The good times are killing me. 
Enough hair of the dog to make myself an entire rug. 
The good times are killing me. 
Have one, have twenty more “one mores” and oh it does not relent. 
The good times are killing me. 
Shit-kicker city slickers who all wanted me dead. 
The good times are killing me. 

Get sucked in and stuck in late nights 
with more folks that I don’t know. 
The good times are killing me. 

The good times are killing me. 
The good times are killing me. 

Tags: Modest Mouse

One Chance

“One Chance”

We have one chance. 
One chance to get everything right. 
We have one chance, one chance. 
And if we’re lucky we might. 

My friends, my habits, my family, 
they mean so much to me. 
I just don’t think that it’s right. 
I’ve seen so many ships sail in, 
just to head back out again and go off sinking. 

I’m just a box in a cage. I’m just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box, just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box, just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box, just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box in a cage. 

Didn’t mean to laugh, didn’t know I had. 
Didn’t know the better part of what you said 
cause in your head you are not home. 

Didn’t get the joke. Didn’t mean to poke another, 
just to save myself 
from some something something or another one. 
Well walk home. 

I’m just a box in a cage. I’m just a box in a cage.
I’m just a box, just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box in a cage. 

I’m just a box, just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box, just a box in a cage. 
I’m just a box in a cage. 

We have one chance, 
one chance to get everything right. 
My friends, my habits, my family, 
they mean so much to me. 
I just don’t think that it’s right. 
I’ve seen so many ships sail in, 
just to head back out again and go off sinking.

Tags: Modest Mouse

Black Cadillacs

“Black Cadillacs”

And it’s true we named our children 
After towns that we’ve never been to. 
And it’s true that the clouds just hung around 
Like black Cadillacs outside a funeral. 

And we were done, done, done 
With all the fuck, fuck, fuckin’ around. 
You were so true to yourself. 
You were true to no one else. 
Well I should put you in the ground. 

I’ve got the time, I got the hours, 
I got the days, I got the weeks. 
I could say to myself 
I’ve got the words but I can’t speak. 
Well I was done, done, done 
With all the circ, circ, circlin’ round. 

I didn’t die and I ain’t complainin’. 
I ain’t blamin’ you. 
I didn’t know that the words you said to me 
Meant more to me than they ever could you.
I didn’t lie and I ain’t sayin’ 
I told the whole truth. 
I didn’t know that this game we were playin’ 
Even had a set of rules. 

We named our children after towns 
That we’ve never been to. 
And it’s true that the clouds just hung around 
Like black Cadillacs outside a funeral. 
And we were laughing at the stars 
While our feet clung tight to the ground. 
So pleased with ourselves 
For using so many verbs and nouns. 

But we were all still just dumb, dumb, dumber 
Than the dirt, dirt, dirt on the ground. 
Well wings on flames, kings with no names, 
Well this place just ain’t got the right air right now. 
You were so all over town but still so Crayola brown. 
Well you should run ‘round yourself right now. 
And we were done, done, done 
With all the fuck, fuck, fuckin’ around. 
Circlin’ round.

Tags: Modest Mouse

Blame

“Blame It On The Tetons”

Blame it on the Tetons. Yeah, I need a scapegoat now. 
No my dog won’t bite you, though it had the right to. 
You oughta give her credit cuz she knows I would’ve let it happen. 

Blame it on the weekends. God I need a cola now. 
Oh we mumble loudly, wear our shame so proudly. 
Wore our blank expressions, trying to look interesting. 
Blame it all on me cause God I need a cold one now. 

All them eager actors gladly taking credit 
for the lines created by the people tucked away from sight 
is just a window from the room we’re bound to. 
If you find a way out, oh would you just let me know how? 
Would you just let me know how? 

Blame it on the web but the spider’s your problem now. 
Language is the liquid that we’re all dissolved in. 
Great for solving problems, after it creates a problem. 
Blame it on the Tetons. God, I need a scapegoat now. 

Everyone’s a building burning 
with no one to put the fire out. 
Standing at the window looking out, 
waiting for time to burn us down. 
Everyone’s an ocean drowning 
with no one really to show how. 
They might get a little better air 
if they turned themselves into a cloud.

Tags: Modest Mouse

Bukowski

“Bukowski”

Woke up this morning and it seemed to me, 
that every night turns out to be 
A little more like Bukowski. 
And yeah, I know he’s a pretty good read. 
But God who’d wanna be? 
God who’d wanna be such an asshole? 
God who’d wanna be? 
God who’d wanna be such an asshole? 

Well we sat on the edge of the river, 
the crowd screamed, “Sacrifice the liver!” 
If God takes life, he’s an Indian giver. 
So tell me now why, you’ll tell me never. 
Who would wanna be? 
Who would wanna be such a control freak? 
Well who would wanna be? 
Who would wanna be such a control freak? 

Well see what you wanna see. You should see it all.
Well take what you want from me. You deserve it all.
Nine times out of ten our hearts just get dissolved.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.

But one time out of ten, everything is perfect for us all. 
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall. 
Here we go! 

If God controls the land and disease, 
keeps a watchful eye on me, 
If he’s really so damn mighty, 
my problem is I can’t see, 
well who would wanna be? 
Who would wanna be such a control freak? 
Well who would wanna be? 
Who would wanna be such a control freak? 

Evil home stereo, what good songs do you know? 
Evil me, oh yeah I know, what good curves can you throw? 

Well all that icing and all that cake, 
I can’t make it to your wedding, but I’m sure I’ll be at your wake. 
You were talk, talk, talk, talkin’ in circles that day, 
when you get to the point make sure that I’m still awake, OK? 

Went to bed and didn’t see 
why every day turns out to be 
a little bit more like Bukowski. 
And yeah, I know he’s a pretty good read. 
But God who’d wanna be? 
God who’d wanna be such an asshole?

Tags: Modest Mouse

I Came As A Rat


“I Came As A Rat”

Well I ain’t sure, but I been told
He’s baking cakes inside our souls
Stayed awake, took a nap
Got myself my bottles back
I’m breakin’ them out on the street
Walkin’ around in my bare feet
I do not need you to tell me that I am not a cat
I caught a ride, we caught some air
He’s never gonna cut his hair
It takes more time to make a fake
We night swam down in the lake
Washed the dirt off our intentions
Prattle on ‘bout bad inventions
I came as ice, I came as a whore
I came as advice that came too short
I came as gold, I came as crap
I came clean and I came as a Rat
It takes a long time, but God dies too
But not before he’ll stick it to you
Well I don’t know, but I been told
You never die and you never grow old
Uh oh!
I came as a call, I came as flat
I came too soon so I came back
I came as flowers, I came as nice
I came as dirt and I came as its price
It takes a long time, but God dies too
But not before he’ll stick it to you
I don’t know, but I been told
You never die and you never grow old
Uh Oh!

Paper Thin


“Paper Thin Walls”

These walls are paper thin
And everyone hears every little sound
Everyone’s a voyeur, their watching me
Watch them, watch me right now
They’re shakin’ hands, they’re shakin’ in their shoes
Oh Lord, don’t shake me now
Everyone wants two of them
And half of everyone else who’s around
Its been agreed, the whole world stinks
So no ones taking showers anymore
Laugh hard it’s a long way to the bank
I can’t be blamed for nothin’ anymore
It’s been a long time since you’ve been around
Laugh hard it’s a long ways to the bank
Tow the line to tax the time, you know
That you don’t owe
I can’t be a fool for everyone that I don’t know

Tags: Modest Mouse

Tiny Cities

“Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes”

We’re goin’ down the road towards tiny cities made of ashes
Gonna hit you on the face gonna punch you in your
glasses. Oh no!
I just got a message that said “Yeah hell is freezin’ over”
I Got a phone call from the Lord sayin’ “Hey boy get a
sweater. Right now”
So we’re drinkin’ drinkin’ drinkin’ drinkin’ coca-coca-cola
I can feel it rollin’ right on down
Oh right on down my throat
And as we’re headed down the road towards tiny cities
made of ashes
I’m gonna get dressed up in plastic gonna shake hands
with the masses. Oh no!
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away
Does anybody know a way
Were goin’ down the road towards tiny cities made of ashes
I’m goin’ to hit you on the face I’m goin’ to punch you in your
glasses. Oh no!
I’m wearin’ myself a t-shirt that says “The world is my ashtray”
Our hearts pump dust and our hairs all grey
And I just got a message sayin’ that hell has frozen over
Got a phone call from the Lord sayin’ “Hey boy get a
sweater. Right now!”
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away
Does anybody know a way
Were drinkin’ drinkin’ drinkin’ drinkin’ coca-coca-cola
I can feel it rollin’ right on down oh right on down my throat
And as we’re headed down the road towards tiny cities
made of ashes
I’m gonna lay down in the spa where they coat you
in molasses. Oh no!
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away
Does anybody know a way

Tags: Modest Mouse

Bankrupt on Selling

“Bankrupt On Selling”

well all the apostles-they’re sitting in swings
saying “i’d sell off my savior for a set of new rings
and some sandles with the style of straps that cling best to the era”
so all of the businessers in their unlimited
hell where they buy and they sell and they sell all their
trash to each other but they’re sick of it all
and they’re bankrupt on selling
and all of the angels
they’d sell off yer soul for a set of new wings and anything gold
they remember
the people they loved their old friends
and i’ve seen through’em all seen through’em all and seen through most everything
all the people you knew were the actors
all the people you knew were the actors
well, i’ll go to college and i’ll learn some big words
and i’ll talk real loud
goddamn right i’ll be heard
you’ll remember all the guys that said all those big words he must’ve
learned in college
and it took a long time
i came clean with myself
i come clean out of love with my lover
i still love her
loved her more when she used to be sober and i was kinder

Polar Opposites

“Polar Opposites”

Polar opposites don’t push away
It’s the same on the weekends as the rest of the days
And I know I should go but I’ll probably stay
And that’s all you can do about some things
I’m trying to drink away the part of the day
That I cannot sleep away
Two one eyed dogs, they’re looking at stereos
Hi-fi Gods try so hard to make their cars low to the ground
These vibrations oil its teeth
Primer gray is the color when you’re done dying
I’m trying to drink away the part of the day
That I cannot sleep away

Tags: Modest Mouse

Trucker’s Atlas


“Trucker’s Atlas”

I’m going to Colorado
to unload my head
I’m going to New York City
and that’s in New York,friends
I’m going to Arizona
sex on the rocks all warm and red
and we bled
and the writing in stall said
“we write our maps in the stalls”
I’m going up to Alaska
I’m going to get off scot-fucking-free
and we all did
This truckers atlas roads the ways
the freeways and highways don’t know
The buzz from the bird on my dash
Road locomotive phone
I don’t feel and it feels great
I sold my atlas by the freight stairs
I do lines and I crossed roads
I crossed the lines of all the great state roads
I’m going up
going over to Montana
You got yourself a trucker’s atlas
You knew you were all hot, well
Maybe you’ll go and blow a gasket
Start at the northwest corner
Go down through California
beeline you might drive three days
and three nights to the tip of Florida
Do you speak the lingo?
Oh No. No no
How far does your road?
Oh no, you don’t know
I’m going to Colorado
to unload my head
I’m going to New York City
and that’s in New York, friends
I’m going up to Alaska
I’m going to get off scot-fucking-free
And we all did
And the writing in the salt syas
We ride on out to the stars
I’m going to Arizona
Sex on the rocks all warm and red

Out of Gas

“Out Of Gas”

Out of gas
Out of road
Out of car
I don’t know how I’m going to go and
I had a drink the other day
Opinions were like kittens
I was giving them away and
I had a drink the other day
I had a lot to say
And I said
You will come down soon too
You will come down too soon

Tags: Modest Mouse