kevin devine
the city has left you alone
Neurotic intellectual Emotionally unavailable You're everything you think you should be But the truth is unavoidable And every choice intentional Darling, I don't mean to be mean But you're see-through as see-through can be And when the party ends, you're sweating in sheets  The city has left you alone You cycle on fast-forward through The strangers in your phone And you re-record your voice mail Find that perfect hollow tone: "Hey, you've reached me, but what does that mean? I don't know."  So run your risk and play your part Hide away your hardened heart And tuck yourself back into your shell But is all that detached irony That finely tuned delivery Hurting more than it's ever helped? Are you fooling anyone but yourself? Well, you're the only one who can tell  Because the city has left you alone In a Chelsea bar at closing time Too wired to go home When a street shark with a songbird rap And a repertory brogue Slurs, c'mon love. There ain't no secret code. Are you thinking what I'm thinkin', yes or no? Leave the mourning for the mornin', love. Let's go.  You're acting out the dead end of a theme A cliche in a roundabout Another person's dream It makes romantic copy but it's not a life to lead  So roll your eyes and suck on your teeth No, you don't need to prove nothin' to me But you're the only one who knows what you need  The city has left you alone Squinting at an address With a car service on hold You keep waiting on redemption, But isn't waiting getting old? You shut your eyes The city clears its throat "On with the show."