EMPIRE BUILDER
FROM THE EMPIRE BUILDER'S WINDOW
I WATCHED THE BIRD FLY LOW
I WATCHED THE BIRD JUST LONG ENOUGH TO ALMOST SEE IT LAND
DID IT FIND A PERCH, OR DISAPPEAR LIKE LYRICS
ON A PAGE THAT GET ERASED
WHEN THE PREMISE DOESN'T LAND?
I WAS THIRTY ONCE, BUT NOW I'M THIRTY-ONE
I WONDER IF I'LL EVER FEEL THAT I HAVE REACHED DRY LAND
THEY SAY IT'S LONELY AT THE TOP, SO LET'S STAY DOWN
I'D RATHER FEEL THE CHILL THE FLOOD BRINGS
HOLD YOU CLOSE AND STAND OUR GROUND
IT'S A FREE RIDE, BUT YOU GOTTA PICK THE RIGHT TRAIN
THE WRONG LINE COULD BE A ROUND TRIP YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE
I TOOK A TRIP INTO THE CITY, TRIED TO TEXT YOU FROM THE SUBWAY
BUT I JUST SAT WITH A STRANGER AND STARED BLANKLY AT MY HANDS
UPON ARRIVAL ALL THE BUILDINGS HAD ABSORBED
THE FOLKS WHO FEEL LIKE OUTSIDERS BUT CHOOSE TO STAY INDOORS
A SPACE OBSCENELY PUBLIC THEN AT ONCE PROCLAIMED
A DEAFENINGLY PRIVATE END-OF-DAY REFRAIN
SO I STARED UP AT YOUR WINDOW
IT GLOWED JUST LIKE THE RAILWAY SIGNAL LIGHTS
I WAIT AND COUNT THE CARS
WONDER WHAT'S IN THERE
I'VE GOT A WAY TO GO TIL I CAN AFFORD THAT LEATHER JACKET
BUT I'VE GOT A NEW CAR AND I'M GONNA TAKE CARE
I WANT A NEW LOOK BUT I'VE GOTTA GET THE GUTS TO HACK IT
KEEP THE MILEAGE LOW YOU'LL NEVER GO NOWHERE
IT'S A FREE RIDE, BUT YOU GOTTA PICK THE RIGHT TRAIN
THE WRONG LINE COULD BE A ROUND TRIP YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE
IT'S A FREE RIDE, BUT YOU GOTTA PICK THE RIGHT TRAIN
YOU MIGHT BE ON TIME; YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO LATE
FROM THE EMPIRE BUILDER'S WINDOW
I WATCHED THE BIRD FLY LOW
I WATCHED THE BIRD JUST LONG ENOUGH TO ALMOST SEE IT LAND
DID IT FIND A PERCH, OR DISAPPEAR LIKE LYRICS
ON A PAGE THAT GET ERASED
WHEN THE PREMISE DOESN'T LAND?
I WAS THIRTY ONCE, BUT NOW I'M THIRTY-ONE
I WONDER IF I'LL EVER FEEL THAT I HAVE REACHED DRY LAND
THEY SAY IT'S LONELY AT THE TOP, SO LET'S STAY DOWN
I'D RATHER FEEL THE CHILL THE FLOOD BRINGS
HOLD YOU CLOSE AND STAND OUR GROUND
IT'S A FREE RIDE, BUT YOU GOTTA PICK THE RIGHT TRAIN
THE WRONG LINE COULD BE A ROUND TRIP YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE
I TOOK A TRIP INTO THE CITY, TRIED TO TEXT YOU FROM THE SUBWAY
BUT I JUST SAT WITH A STRANGER AND STARED BLANKLY AT MY HANDS
UPON ARRIVAL ALL THE BUILDINGS HAD ABSORBED
THE FOLKS WHO FEEL LIKE OUTSIDERS BUT CHOOSE TO STAY INDOORS
A SPACE OBSCENELY PUBLIC THEN AT ONCE PROCLAIMED
A DEAFENINGLY PRIVATE END-OF-DAY REFRAIN
SO I STARED UP AT YOUR WINDOW
IT GLOWED JUST LIKE THE RAILWAY SIGNAL LIGHTS
I WAIT AND COUNT THE CARS
WONDER WHAT'S IN THERE
I'VE GOT A WAY TO GO TIL I CAN AFFORD THAT LEATHER JACKET
BUT I'VE GOT A NEW CAR AND I'M GONNA TAKE CARE
I WANT A NEW LOOK BUT I'VE GOTTA GET THE GUTS TO HACK IT
KEEP THE MILEAGE LOW YOU'LL NEVER GO NOWHERE
IT'S A FREE RIDE, BUT YOU GOTTA PICK THE RIGHT TRAIN
THE WRONG LINE COULD BE A ROUND TRIP YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE
IT'S A FREE RIDE, BUT YOU GOTTA PICK THE RIGHT TRAIN
YOU MIGHT BE ON TIME; YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO LATE
