Maintain the Madness

I went to New York and paid lots of money
To stay in the silence and not play for anyone
I picked up a bar tab and drank myself stupid
I flirted with strangers just to feel attractive.
I stood on a rooftop and looked to the skyline
The cloud started rolling in as I start to say
â€�Goodbyeâ€� to my grandfather who’s at home dying
The rain started in and I was left crying…
Cos I’ve got to maintain the madness
Just so the stillness makes sense to me
I’ve got to keep the momentum rolling along
So that no-one can stop me
No-one can drag me
Home.
I went to San Francisco with my best friend
To sing in a bar full of gay men who wanted me
But they did not know me though they thought I sang pretty
I made love to the microphone so they would not feel
So empty inside on this wintery night
In this city of madmen and loners and stoners
And lovers forgotten in favour of rotten misfortunes with money
But I still went home alone
Cos I’ve got to maintain the madness
Just so the stillness makes sense to me
I’ve got to keep the momentum rolling along
So that no-one can stop me
No-one can drag me
Home.
But now I’m here in Boston
In love with Downtown Crossing
In this very room where some of my favourite songs have been written
I’m writing this one
To sing and remember
These days in December
Where I have surrendered
I’m not pretending
To stay still…
So next week I’ll go to Iceland
Then onto London.
And into the arms of my favourite stranger
And then onwards
Cos I cannot I will not I cannot I will not I will not I cannot
I will never stop…
Cos I’ve got to maintain the madness
Just so the stillness makes sense to me
I’ve got to keep the momentum rolling along
So that no-one can stop me
No-one can drag me
Home.