The Old Gold Shoe

The gold stereo
Stretches out the sound
Turns the plates until they're rounded
The whole that you know
Gets closer to the ground
Closer to that thing you found

And for all our massive brains
To call on choked remains
It's painful, and it's certain
That something's bound to break inside

This house is not alone
I'm kicking 'round here somewhere
So check behind the ancient speaker
Like pain, painful southern bliss, it's poured upon like caramel
And garnished with some crushed pecans

And to grow is not to grind
To mope is not to mind
The old cap, the geezer
The 15-second teaser

Behold, and you know that everyone's a ringer
He's not even my very good singer
The dirt on the tracks
Has hardened into clusters
Of earthen legs and honey mustard

The storm closes in
Our leaves start to spin
It's getting much later
I wish I heard your radio tonight

The people in the rain
Are staring through our backs
Wishing you had half a brain
For all, all our little pain
Tender is the mangle
The science diet the ivory tangle

It all goes away
Each and every stinking day
I'm getting much better
This evening's little up-setter

The kids out in the street
Take their toys and break them
And look at them, then walk away
The guy on the cross is holier than I
But then again he's made from plastic

And for all our massive brains
To call on choked remains
It's painful, and it's certain
That something's bound to break inside