Maintain the Madness

I went to New York and paid lots of money
To stay in silence and not play for anyone
I picked up a bar tab and drank myself stupid
I flirted with strangers just to feel attractive
I stood on a rooftop and looked to the skyline
The clouds started rolling in as I start to say
Goodbye to my grandfather who's at home dying
The rain started in, and I was left crying

I've got to maintain the madness
Just so the stillness makes sense to me
And I've got to keep the momentum rolling along
So that no one can stop me
No one can drag me home

And I went to San Francisco with my best friend
To sing in a bar full of gay men who wanted me
But they did not know me
Though they thought I sang pretty
I made love to the microphone
So they would not feel so empty inside on this wintry night
In this city of madmen and loners and stoners
And lovers forgotten in favor of rotten misfortunes with money
But I still went home alone

I've got to maintain the madness
Just so the stillness makes sense to me
And I've got to keep the momentum rolling along
So that no one can stop me
No one can drag me home

But now I'm here in Boston
In love with Downtown Crossing
In this very room where some of my favorite songs
Have been written, I'm writing this one
To sing and remember these days in December
I have surrendered, I'm not pretending to stay still
To stay still
And so next week, I'll go to Iceland, then onto London
And into the arms of my favorite stranger, oh, but then onwards
'Cause I cannot, I will not, I will not, I cannot
I cannot, I will not, I will not, I cannot
I will never stop, oh

Maintaining the madness
Just so the stillness makes sense to me
And I've got to keep the momentum rolling along
So that no one can stop me
No one can drag me home
Home