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THIS OLD TOWN

Verse 1
She drinks the last of the red wine down
then she puts on a copy of Pet Sounds 

and Brian Wilson sings her cares away 

She carries a hope that she wrote down
in the paperback black book that she found 

A closely­-guarded keepsake stowed away

Where to go? God only knows

 

Chorus
I’ll be a high-flying, death-defying, suspended escape act 

In a stiff, straitjacket town where the future is smarter, but it’s scarred
I’ll invoke the great Houdini, don’t look away, ‘cause you won’t see me
slip out this locale by the smoke and mirrors of my car 

 

Verse 2
The years run long and the dreams die hard
like forty years in the old train yard
where the tracks are strewn with the ends of cigarettes 

Bound by collective consciousness
Some folks want more, but most want less
So fare-thee-well, before I reassess 

Where to go? God only knows

 

Chorus
I’ll be a high-flying, death-defying, suspended escape act 

In a stiff, straitjacket town where the future is smarter, but it’s scarred
I’ll invoke the great Houdini, don’t look away, ‘cause you won’t see me
slip out this locale by the smoke and mirrors of my car 

 

Bridge:
This old town looks best miles away in silhouette
It played hard to get, it don’t forgive, so I’ll forget
I’m sure it will find other ways to carry on
and will shed no tears when it comprehends I’m gone 

 

Verse 3

We’ve got nowhere but home to go
and the same five friends that never show
and coffee guy who we think knows our name 

Contingency under stars aglow
If we never try, we’ll never know
These wanderin’ bones don’t have much more to take 

 

Chorus 2

We’ll be a high-flying, death-­defying, suspended escape act
In a stiff, straightjacket town where the future is smarter, but it’s scarred 

We’ll invoke the great Houdini, don’t look away, we’re doomed but then we
slip out this locale by the smoke and mirrors of my car 

(c) 2016 Elgie Street Music (ASCAP)

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