Teeth Like God's Shoeshine

(album: The Lonesome Crowded West - 1997)

From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well, I get claustrophobic
I can, you know that I can, well
From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well, I get claustrophobic
I can, you know that I can

And he said
"I am not allowed much danger
Keep in line, you're an old friend, stranger
You'll burn me in effigy and I'll burn you in effigy."
Well, a rattlesnake up in Buffalo, Montana
He bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha! That boy fell down on his harelip—Ow! Ow!
Well I, I might be wrong
But you, you tag along
And we, we've all been wronged
And I feel dizzier by the mile
Said, "Hell, yeah! The money's spent!"
Went to the county line and paid the rent
I said, "Uh-oh", I said "Uh-oh"

Oh! If you could compact your conscience
Oh! And you might
Oh! If you could bottle and sell it, you might have done
Oh! And you might
Oh! If you could compact your conscience
And sell it, save it for another time
You know you might have to use it

And the television's on
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends
And find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it
Well, do you need a lot of what you got to survive?

Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles, shimmers, shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon-to-be ghost towns
Well, so long, farewell, goodbye

Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go 'round town
No one wants to be uptight anymore
You could be ashamed or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone

Take 'em all for the sense of happiness
That comes from hurting deep down inside
Or you could add it up and give a shit, give a shit
Go to the family doctor
It's all worth it, all worth it
All, all wrong, and it's all, all gone
Or you could add it up and give a shit, give a shit
I'm on the corner of this and this and this and this
All, all wrong, and it's all, all wrong

Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles, shimmers, shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon-to-be ghost towns
Well, so long, farewell, goodbye

And the telephone goes off
Pick the receiver up, try to meet ends
And find out the beginning, the end and the best of it
Oh my, goddamn!

Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go around town
No one wants to be uptight anymore
You could be ashamed or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone