Through the wall in a soft spring rustle
Street-side selling some summer hustle
And across the Maple Street Bridge
In a bristling fall  just whistling
All's a balled-up riddle  just a high snowball  on a curve-and-fall
Through a parking lot at Christmas
I heard her whisper  I heard him call
Here's what the gist was:

Only wary in our lives-
Open-eyed and half-ashamed that is to say

A float on a ferry  freezing  tired  fully wired  a total waste

That's where the spirit left us
Underneath the house  just like a flameout teen

Who smells like sweat and gasoline
Kid  I stand with you
And when you get hard  and your eyes get mean
Because you're on the march
Well  I could almost kiss you
Don't let them twist you
Here have this song- you can take it with you:

Stay lonely  open-wide

Your eyes all fire  your mind aflame
Don't be disgraced
Loose of limb  unlionized  while all liars fade to grey
I know you feel detested

Did a silence drop  Did your walkman stop
Did the air turn cold  Was the message just so close
Oh but did you choke it  Oh  kid  I know
I know where this is going
Because we always blow it
Only wary in our lives -
Open-eyed and half-ashamed
It's just that way

Afloat down that river  freezing  tired  fully wired  a total waste
That's where the spirit left us
Only wary in our lives
Your eyes all fire  your mind aflame
And don't be dismayed
When this sobbing world goes screaming by
I swear that if I had my way
You know I would have blessed it