Still a Criminal

I spent the money,
I got the clothes,
I looked alright.
There was a dreamlike quality to the way the streets took the streetlight.
I didn't go to the party,
I took a walk down the hill to the sea.
Still a criminal, still free.
Still a criminal, still free.
'Live free or die,'
said the blessedly and terrifyingly empty sky.
I cut my hair,
I cut down on alcohol,
I cut some songs.
I said a prayer for the angel I'm pretty sure my mother believes in.
I made a point of being where decent human beings
made a point of telling me that I should be,
but I was still a criminal, still free.
But I know how to live,
a leopard in the tree.
Yes, I know how to live,
how to live just like an ordinary guy.
'Live free or die,'
said the orphan to the prince.
'Live free or die,'
said the dying fire.
'Live free or die,'
said the parrot to the parrot,
and the scissor to the wing,
and the wing to the scissor.
'Live free or die,'
said the poet in the coffin,
said the elephant to the ocean,
the mountaineer to the sailor,
and the sailor to the earth,
and the boy with no toys,
and the comedian to the computer,
and the hand to the finger,
the hand to the finger,
the hand to the finger,
and the music fan to the musician,
like the wind to the mediocre dancer.
'Live free or die,'
said the blessedly and terrifyingly empty sky.
But I know how to live,
a leopard in the tree.
Yes, I know how to live,
how to live just like an ordinary guy.