Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
If I had my own way, you'd be with me here today
But I rarely have my own way
I guess that's why you're not here with me today
And the librarian said, "you can't buy no respect"
I said, "hey, lady, what can you expect when I'm lying on the floor?"
You're a lovely lady but you don't wanna be no girl of mine
Well, the only thing you ever done for me
Was help me waste my time
And I saw you at the funeral, you were standing there like a temple
I said, "Hi, how are you? Hello"
And I pulled up a casket and crawled in
Yes, I did
Climbed up a mountain and I looked around
Some kind of circus with all them clowns
I said, "hey wait a minute, can we slow down a bit?"
And I almost got hit by a truck
Well it just goes to show you that we're all on our own
Scrounging for our own share of good luck
Stab your brother in the back
And pick up your paycheck
Goodbye, lonely heart drawings, you never did work anyhow
I'm looking for a nice girl, and I don't want no cow
I'm heading out west
Gonna find me the best
Well, I played the game, but I failed the test
If I can't be a lover then I'll be a pest
Yes, I will
But I rarely have my own way
I guess that's why you're not here with me today
And the librarian said, "you can't buy no respect"
I said, "hey, lady, what can you expect when I'm lying on the floor?"
You're a lovely lady but you don't wanna be no girl of mine
Well, the only thing you ever done for me
Was help me waste my time
And I saw you at the funeral, you were standing there like a temple
I said, "Hi, how are you? Hello"
And I pulled up a casket and crawled in
Yes, I did
Climbed up a mountain and I looked around
Some kind of circus with all them clowns
I said, "hey wait a minute, can we slow down a bit?"
And I almost got hit by a truck
Well it just goes to show you that we're all on our own
Scrounging for our own share of good luck
Stab your brother in the back
And pick up your paycheck
Goodbye, lonely heart drawings, you never did work anyhow
I'm looking for a nice girl, and I don't want no cow
I'm heading out west
Gonna find me the best
Well, I played the game, but I failed the test
If I can't be a lover then I'll be a pest
Yes, I will
Lyrics submitted by jesusaurous
Grievances Lyrics as written by Daniel Johnston
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is the quintessential Dan Johnston song, i could hear it a million times and never get bored
I have to agree. This is my favorite Johnston song. Arguably one of the more underrated songs in his catalogue.
The piano in this fucking kills me.