that maple with its hollow pointed finger

stared me down as it beckoned to the sky

it said if you don’t know by now which way you’re going

them walls are closing, you will be left outside

 

so read your bible, lace your boots up, comb your hair down

change your name and draw your curtains in a new town
and if they ever find you there, it’ll be last call my dear
drink all the whiskey, say three hail mary’s

and start again

 

i put four years swift behind me, i was reborn

the few who knew my voice would hear it once a year

and i’d pray the clouds would cover all my housefires

they’ll sniff you out, they’ll come back here

 

so i put four more years in southern san marino

another five wanderin’ round in baton rouge

and all my closest friends think i’m a preacher

who says i’m not, if they sin too

 

so read your bible, lace your boots up, comb your hair down

change your name and close your curtains in a new town
and if they ever find you there, it’ll be last call my dear
drink all the whiskey, say three hail mary’s

and start again