PARANOIA BLUES

Paranoia blues are cutting me down
They’re keeping me in my place
Can’t seem to get a drink in this town
Don’t know a single face

But once upon a time
I was prosperous
I lived out among the trees
Counting my pleasures
Like they was coins
Thinking I was free

Then a wayward preacher
From a schismatic sect
Came by to save my soul
I said alright
He said “Move to the light
And the truth is gonna make you whole”

But I seen him after hours
In a downtown bar
Nursing a bourbon and beer
He said “Son I’m off duty
I’m trying to get some booty
Won’t you please move away from here”

I said well what about the light
You preached last night
Don’t that still apply?
“Of course,” he laughed
As a dancing girl passed
And he followed her with his eyes

He threw her a dollar
And began to holler
When she put on his old top hat
She pulled him by the hand
Up to the bandstand
He was grinning like an old tom cat

Then a little barfly
Sidled to my side
His eyes they burned like coals
He said “My boy cultivate joy
Don’t despise what you can’t control.”

The crowd erupted in a gale of laughter
To hear the old clown talk so
I said hey granddad
You’re making me mad
Don’t you think that it’s time to go

He said “Oh kind sir, as you were
I fear things may get rough
I seen your type before
Don’t need to see no more
I have had enough”

Then a drunken gendarme
Grabbed me by the arm
And flipped me through a door to the right
The crowd began to roar
As I fell to the floor
And crawled away into the night

Well my pride was shattered
My faith was gone
As I staggered on down that hill
I hitched a ride
The preacher pulled to the side
He was driving my Coupe De Ville

He said “Son, you’re a mess
But it’s my guess
You’ll inherit the earth
But till then can you loan me a ten
I gave that dancer every dime I’m worth”

I said I’d like to help you man
But I gave you all I can
Now I’m living on the dole
The preacher jumped up
With his old tin cup
And said “Son, now bless your soul!”

Then he reached in my pocket
And grabbed my wallet
He wasn’t fooling around
He pumped on the gas
And waved as he passed
And split on back downtown

Them paranoia blues
Are cutting me down
I’m losing the human race
Cause I can’t get a leg to stand on
In this wicked place

Won’t somebody tell me
What it is I done wrong
Gonna dig myself a hole
And move underground
Honey that’s where I belong