Like an Inca

"Like an Inca" appears to be a rewritten (and watered-down) version of the (apparently) very personal song "Hitchhiker" which he has played live a couple of times. It shares a melody and some of the lyrics, but the original has a much different focus...

When I was a hitchhiker on the road I had to count on you But you needed me to ease the load And for conversation too Or did you just drive on through?

You didn't see me in Toronto When I first tried out some hash Smoked some then and I'll do it again If I only had some cash Only had some cash.

Then I tried amphetamines And my head was in a glass Taped underneath the speedometer wires Of my '48 Buick's dash. But I knew that wouldn't last.

Then came California Where I first saw open water In the land of opportunity I knew I was getting hotter I knew I was getting hotter.

But the neon lights And the endless nights The neon lights And the endless nights The neon lights And the endless nights The neon lights And the endless nights They took me by surprise The doctor gave me valium But I still couldn't close my eyes I still couldn't close my eyes.

Then came paranoia And it ran away with me I couldn't sign my autograph Or appear on TV Or see or be seen See or be seen Or see or be seen.

Living in the country Sounded good to me Smoking grass while the summer lasts In the real organic sea Where everything was green Everything was green.

Then we had a kid and we split apart I was living on the road A little cocaine went a long long way To ease that different load But my head did explode My head did explode.

I wish I was an Aztec Or a runner in Peru I would build such beautiful buildings To house the chosen few Like an Inca from Peru.

When I was a hitchhiker on the road I had to count on you But you needed me to ease the load And for conversation too Or did you just drive on Did you just drive on Did you just drive on through?