Help in the form of an angel
Who’s buried up to her hips in need
Help in the form of a serpent
Who claims that his friendship
Is good for me
It wasn’t that I couldn’t hear it in my
Spine Go Crack. Go Crack.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t feel it in my
Skull Go Crack. Go Crack
Before when I had some sympathy
I wouldn’t walk where the walking wasn’t softly
Before when I had no grit, no grain
I’d worry whether I’d roughen up
Your fancy polished things
But before ‘before when’ has happened
Again and again
But before ‘before when’ is happening
Every day
Before with eyes of integrity
I wouldn’t talk if the talking wasn’t
Soft or lightly
Before when I had no spit, no stain
Never enough of the
Wash-it-down-the-tub thing
Wash it down
It didn’t arrive at the front door, yeah
It was more in bits and pieces, yeah
Particles pasting themselves on the woodwork
But once in awhile I would smile
As the background faded
Then came the snap
Ushered in just like that, unabated
Before when I had some strength in me
