Barely Alive - Ceschi, Sage Francis

Another year gone, stomach fatter, beard fully grown

Waiting for the nothing and I’m awfully alone

Sunday went and visited your grave

Put a wild rose on the Virgin Mary engraved

Mother sang her song, brother kneeled

And I just kept on wishing that the last year wasn’t real

Teeth have sunk into my neck, teeth have sunk into my neck

Build us a holiday out of stones and holograms

Holy relics and hummingbirds all to fill this hollow man

I’m alright, I’m alright, but don’t fuck with me tonight

These fists are clenched and I will fight for every breath left in this life

All the mosquitoes in Saskatoon couldn’t quite suck the tough out of me yet

Although I know I’m a three-legged dog hopping and begging like Vietnam vets

These years were only appetizers swallowed quick and wet

But I will not forget the remnants that were left

Build us a holiday out of straw and out of sticks

Out of claws and out of bricks, out of gauze and spit

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive

I make a fist, stare at it and think

This is how big my heart is and I’m scared of it

'Til they use scissors to open my shirt

I go to work overworked

In the business of holding a smirk

Private jokes telepathically shared

From the present me to the past me

When I had more hair

The tub remains clogged

Sloshed through the memories of hooking up friends in need of jobs

Didn’t stop them from requesting loans

It started with them calling me «Boss» in a condescending tone

Put an indefinite extension on the zero interest

Better business bureau better be damn well prepared to be impressed

We’re reporting back to duty, heavily wounded

Steadily losing our gains

The enemy moves in

Gotta choose your weapons wisely

When I bust open my rib cage and I unleash the fist that’s beating inside me

It’ll punch more than clocks

Check your peephole, cause there might not be more opportunity that knocks

Door to door I’m selling artificial tears for your eyes

Using a stethoscope just to hear your cries

We’re alive, barely alive, but we’re alive…

Surprise