Fire, brimstone. Real end of world stuff.

On a cross-town train in the middle of the city
Blank looks all around today
It’s in style but it isn’t very pretty
That’s the way
Keep your privacy
When there ain’t no room and there ain’t no hope
Gotta save face to cope
With the speed of life in the age of speed
You fight for what you need

I’m just an old-fashioned boy
Can’t get up for the down stroke
I don’t think that I can compete
In this modern world

She’s fit as a fax-file fiddle
Short punk-spiked hair to boot
Crop-top on a washboard middle
Man she’s cute
But I don’t think that
She’s cracked a smile, laughed out loud
Shared the sweat of a rockin’ crowd
Down in New Orleans, or seen the green
Of a newborn Spring in years

Why don’t you say what you mean
You’re just mouthing the right words
Looks like you’re perfectly made
For this modern world

I’m just an old-fashioned boy
Strictly kickin’ it old-school
I don’t think that I can compete
In this modern world

But I’m not obsolete yet
I’m just tired
And I can’t sleep
I’m paranoid, I’m wired
My head is buzzin’ in my brain
My heart could use some novocaine
Still the soul, kill the pain, yeah

Run right through the milk and honey
We run right out of faith and love
But we ain’t gonna run out of money
Push comes to shove
Comes to fallin’ at your feet
Sweet Jesus, tell me is it really gonna
Rain down fire and brimstone
On our heads?

Why don’t you say what you mean
You’re just mouthing the right words
Looks like you’re perfectly made
For this modern world

I’m just an old-fashioned boy
Can’t get up for the down stroke
I don’t think that I can compete
In this modern world
This modern world

Will Kimbrough “This Modern World” from Cincy Steve on Vimeo.

Looking back

Everyone has days like I’m having,
Holdin on to anything that I can,
To keep myself from anything but laughing,
Looking back as far as I can stare.
Out my window winter is almost over,
I can no more see the sun behind these clouds,
Lookin’ back on where I was one year ago today,
Laughing at the shape I’m in now.

When I was a child I spoke as a child
But all I heard was how I should get ahead,
Now growing up it ain’t anything but all
This indecision with these debts and doubts
And worries hanging over my head.

When I was a child I spoke as a child,
I wish I could remember what I said.

I’d like to find that old time feelin’,
Somewhere in between what I’ve become,
Somewhere down the line it must have seemed appealing,
So I suppose that it must work for some,
But I wanna go back to going crazy,
Believing every word that I was told,
You know sometimes growing up I think I’m getting wiser
And then other times I think I’m getting old.

When I was a child I spoke as a child,
But all I heard was how I should get ahead.
Now growing up it ain’t anything but all this
Indecision with these debts and doubts and
Worries hangin’ over my head.
When I was a child I spoke as a child,
I wish I could remember what I said.

When I was a child I spoke as a child,
God I wish I could remember what I said.

Lyrics by Todd Snider, Songs for the Daily Planet