If funny looks don't get you down
You could get on in this town
The drivers crawl along the curb
The thought of walking's quite absurd
The dumbest thing I've ever heard
Checking in and checking out
Why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?
The living church must move along
The Carmelites could use a song
A blessing father if you please
Help the hopeless in their need
They don't need this kind of sleaze
Checking in and checking out
Why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?
Here's a man who's run the marathon
Sad and lonely, now it's been and gone
Let me check upon my family
I wonder, do they still remember me
I'm on the run, on the fun run
Gifted artists need respect
True collectors must collect
There behind those rusty gates
Dodgy sculptured license plates
The gifted sit around and wait
Checking in and checking out
Why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?
You could get on in this town
The drivers crawl along the curb
The thought of walking's quite absurd
The dumbest thing I've ever heard
Checking in and checking out
Why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?
The living church must move along
The Carmelites could use a song
A blessing father if you please
Help the hopeless in their need
They don't need this kind of sleaze
Checking in and checking out
Why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?
Here's a man who's run the marathon
Sad and lonely, now it's been and gone
Let me check upon my family
I wonder, do they still remember me
I'm on the run, on the fun run
Gifted artists need respect
True collectors must collect
There behind those rusty gates
Dodgy sculptured license plates
The gifted sit around and wait
Checking in and checking out
Why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?
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And it's all done in the Steely Dan vein.
this reminds me of a shins song. can't remember which one exactly, though.
i think this is sean talking about the people in his hometown living boring lives, hence the lyric 'why be shy when you can kick the can and shout?' ??
i know i'm taking the typical approach towards the lyrics, but O'Hagan's lyrics have always been straight-forward.