New Monkey - Elliott Smith

Here comes the sidewalk boss again

Telling me how I can’t cave in

That I’m a study in black

Need a pat on the back

I look up and smile

A picture of dissatisfaction

That he can only see as a junkie

Though I might be straight as an arrow

He’s busy shaking hands with my monkey

Busy shaking hands with my monkey

I go in my car

Straight to the bar

Where my sweetie pours the beer

For the millions of fans ignoring the bands

He’s in my ear

Wants me to live in denial

Says, «You've got to settle for something

Though it might not be really living

Anything is better than nothing

Anything is better than nothing»

No half-dead action man going to move in to take my place

I’ll be pumping out the product

Just a total waste

Look at your hands unoccupied

Look at the lengths you’ll go to hide

You’re under the veil

Pretending to fail

Got a whole lot of empty time left to go

Now you’ve got to fill it with something

I know what you could do, don’t you know

Anything is better than nothing

No half-dead action man going to move in to take my place

I’ll be pumping out the product

Just a total waste

I’m here with my cup

Afraid to look up

This is how I spend my time

Lazing around, head hanging down

Stuck inside my imagination

Busy making something from nothing

Pictures of hope and depression

Anything is better than nothing

Anything is better than nothing

Anything is better than nothing

Anything is better than nothing