Stay Loose

I was choking on a cornflake You said “Have some toast instead” I was sleeping maybe three hours You said “You should get to bed” I was waiting at the church door For the minister to show I was looking at the new year You said “Walk before you crawl” I was feeling like a loser You said “Hey, you’ve still got me” I was feeling pretty lonely You said “You wanted to be free” I was looking for a good time You said “Let the good times start” With a quiver of your eyelid You took on someone else’s part Maybe I’m a little greedy You said “Think before you speak” Sometimes I’m a little seedy You said “Everyone is weak” Now I feel a little better Is there something I can do? But I never heard the answer I never had a clue But what about me I don’t really see How things will improve If all you want is to stay loose There’s a little echo calling Like a miner trapped inside If I tell her of this moment She will in me doubts confide And she’s on me like a blanket Like a stalk of wilting grass I’m not sure about her motives I’m not sure about her past But my faith is like a bullet My belief is like a bolt The only thing that lets me sleep at night A little carriage of the soul If it starts a little bleaker Then the year may yet be gold Happiness is not for keeping Happiness is not my goal But what about me I don’t really see How things will improve If all you want is to stay loose But what about them You play mother hen To a gaggle of gangling youth All you want is to stay loose I was living through the seconds My composure was a mess I was miles from tenderness It was dark outside, the day it was lying in pieces Everything is flat and dreary I couldn’t care what’s in the news Television is the blues Television is hysterical laughter of people And I know it could be me I’m always asking for more I keep running round in circles I keep looking for a doorway I’m going to need two lives To follow the paths I’ve been taking