Black Dog

He never thought he'd think of killing himself
Nobody had a doubt of anything to do with his health
He wasn't ever that kind of gentleman that needed help
Just an everyday bloke trying to handle what he'd been dealt
But it was steadily more difficult to conceal
And he was too proud to reveal, the loneliest fear that he feels
Envious on those on an even keel, cos from where he's
sitting that disposition is completely unreal
It's not his car's lost any one of its wheels
It's just as if it's been clamped up, secured and sealed
Yo he's flown his white flag and shown he'd yield
Yet the black dog relentlessly honed his heel
In a planet of 6 bill' and still not a soul to understand
Too long ago relinquished the upper hand
Got him suffocated, tightened like a cummerband
Recalls what happy is but that's for another man

His path is lonely, even when it's public
The clown cries tears the crowd cheers and loves it
Coils in his inner turmoil, cups it, tucks it
neatly, keeps em sweetly unflustered
People of prominence are just as likely
Even if they're as hyped as hyphy, bright and feisty
They might be the John Conrads and Steve Rogers
Gold medals, best and fairest, they got notches
Cars and ski lodges, they might even be doctors
Tragic characters, silver screen operas
Convinced that they're imposters, row with one oar
Men that made themselves now think they're done for
And they can't talk, someone on the mute button
Men die in batchelor pads, nobody knew nothing
The view from here is as grey as vacant car parks
Don't ask why it's so hard to laugh

...He's wondering streets alone
Can't remember these avenues, they feel unknown
Listen to the sound of a distant truck's compression brakes
Afraid of the frailty of the things he'd set in place
He's had better days, some worse than others
Not the kind of fella proud of sleeping in under the covers
Close up the shutters take the phone off the hook
And if they enquire he'll reply he was crook, look
It overtook him too long ago and took his honour
Slow but surely, imprisoned like S. Corby
17 years since he celebrated 40, too many candles
To blow out, and it's too corny
He might make a decision and set off a chain of events
Find a way to say what he meant
But he's spent just looking to get by the black dog
In the corner of his eye won't back off...

Getting stalked by the black dog
Stalked by the black dog
You back down but still he won't back off
Trying to navigate without a map of
The way home, stalked by the black dog
stalked by the black dog