Black Dog

All I can taste is cigarettes
And the kiss you left upon my lips
I’ve left a number of old regrets
From my silken white legs to my hips

People often say there’s no time in a day
But there’s way too much time for me
I’m empty and aching; my whole world is shaking
And the black dog has sat at my feet

Nobody sees what I do to me
Nobody sees when I’m crazed
The contempt that I hold for my own defeat
And the guilt I feel masked by my rage

You waltz in the room in your drunken perfume
And you touch every inch of my being
Until the bitter sun rises and shows our disguises
You stretch while I’m left there bleeding

And you step away ‘cause you’re part of the day
And I sleep ‘cause I’m part of the night
And you say my chains will soon break away
And I’ll join you one day in the light

You push me and pull me, you ride me, you thrill me
Then turn every inch of me down
And I have nothing and no one
So what could I owe to one man who is craved by the crowd?

Break my hands; I can’t, I cannot break them myself
I see my own mind and the poisoning of its health
Help is beyond me; help won’t come from someone else

You waltz in the room in your drunken perfume
And you touch every inch of my being
And you grab my hand; reassure me again
That knowledge is so often freeing

And you say my chains will soon break away
And I’ll join you one day in the light
But I’m empty and aching; my whole world is breaking
And the black dog is holding me tight