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The Human Song

from Lexicon Carnival by The Messy Jacksons

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lyrics

I am a man, a family man
Of decent means
I got a wife, two kids, a suburban home
And hope and dreams
Thought I'd build a little nest egg
Send my kids off to school,
Hit that silver anniversary, take a Mediterranean cruise
But we had one too many fights,
Some things can't be unsaid
She took the kids to her mom's, found another man
And she left me for dead

So I'll ride, ride, ride,
I'll ride the rails
And when that train gets to where
I don't know I'm goin
I'll start livin for myself

I am a man, a career man
I'm wedded to my job
I'm on a sturdy rung of the corporate ladder
And I'm headed to the top
I always check my e-mail
And I make eighty calls a day
I kiss my boss's ass for the chance to pass him
I really earn my pay
But they found this guy in India
Who will work for half as much
Threw me out on the street with just the shoes on my feet
And said "We'll be in touch"

So I'll ride, ride, ride,
I'll ride the rails
And when that train gets to where
I don't know I'm goin
I'll start livin for myself

I'm a woman, I'm smart as hell
A recent graduate
I got A's in my classes studying journalism
Yeah I really know my shit
I'm doing this for the people
Tell their stories to the world
Where there's trouble and strife that'll be my life
I'm an action kind of girl
But every time I interview
It's with a sleazy, slick-haired slob
He says "You look qualified with your hips and your tits
But how are you at sucking cock?"

So I'll ride, ride, ride,
I'll ride the rails
And when that train gets to where
I don't know I'm goin
I'll start livin for myself

I am a man, a homeless man
Clothed in tattered rags
Get my sleep on a bench, my dental work from a wrench
And my food from garbage bags
It hasn't always been like this
I paid rent with my paychecks
But you're a step away when you haven't saved
And get hurt in an accident
I hobble around the city parks
Til they picked me up for vagrancy
Threw my ass in a cell and they beat me to hell
And they slapped me with a fee

So I'll ride, ride, ride,
I'll ride the rails
And when that train gets to where
I don't know I'm goin
I'll start livin for myself

I am a man, an American man
I'm just your average Joe
I'm Willy Loman, I'm Billy Pilgrim,
I'm everyone you know
Exxon-Mobil's got record profits
But I can't afford a gallon of gas
I'm getting laid off while the boss is paid off
Say goodbye to the middle class

So I'll ride, ride, ride,
I'll ride the rails
And when that train gets to where
I don't know I'm goin
I'll start livin for myself

credits

from Lexicon Carnival, released February 11, 2015

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The Messy Jacksons Portland, Oregon

Do like like funny sad sound words? Then Messy Jacksons have good sound words for you. You like finger string picky fretty? Messy Jackson have other good sound words for you. Messy Jacksons is sometimes one, sometimes many, sometimes acoustic, sometimes electronic, always funny sad sound words from the Portland that stole its name from the other Portland. ... more

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