Swimming to Cambodia

(formerly known as "Spalding Gray is Missing")

the flicker of the tv and a long forgotten memory
are the only things you'll ever leave behind
the dust that's on the floor, there's noone at your door
now tell me, do you really think you're free?
the war is done, my friend, you fought until the end
you threw your white flag down
morning, noon and night, you always seemed to lose the fight
spalding, where the hell are you?

you say that the grasses are greener and everything's cleaner on their shores
today is the day where you're going to swim to cambodia

you once were lit ablaze with the fire of your younger days
you blinded everyone you met
you never were the same, since dublin's night consumed your flame
and stole the matches from your pocket
the hudson's freezing, but your braincells keep on squeezing 'round the
thought that you must swim away today
from the staten island ferry on the coldest night in january
it's cambodia or bust

you once had feared the man who held you in his hand
and controlled you when you sleep
but now the end's your friend, you're reaching to extend
your white flag to the sky you once had cursed
the sun is sinking and your frozen eyes are blinking
at the cold atlantic nothingness ahead
you take a deep sigh as you wave a passing goodbye
and you set your course and swim away

you say that the grasses are greener and everything's cleaner on their shores
today is the day where you're going to swim to cambodia