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)
