She was a good looking doll
I stood there like a jerk
And in fact—got drink-drunk that night
I was hit by the proprietor
Breaking up a fight
Before I had a chance to decide to hit him back
(which I didn’t do …)
I was out on the street
I tried to rush back in
But they had locked the door
And were looking at me through the forbidden glass in the door
With faces like undersea
I should have played with her
So there I am—in dawn—in my dim cell
My mind whirls with life!
Oh well, anyway, I’ll be learning
Eventually—to like the railroad
And Lily will like me someday and anyway
Another day—another dollar
I get embarrassed thinking what all the people
In the world are gonna say to see a man running
So devilishly fast—just to catch a goddam train
Then I think to myself—what the fuck?
Why should I give a shit what they think?
She was a good looking doll I stood there like a jerk And in fact—got drink-drunk that night I was hit by the proprietor Breaking up a fight Before I had a chance to decide to hit him back (which I didn’t do …) I was out on the street I tried to rush back in But they had locked the door And were looking at me through the forbidden glass in the door With faces like undersea I should have played with her
So there I am—in dawn—in my dim cell My mind whirls with life! Oh well, anyway, I’ll be learning Eventually—to like the railroad And Lily will like me someday and anyway Another day—another dollar I get embarrassed thinking what all the people In the world are gonna say to see a man running So devilishly fast—just to catch a goddam train Then I think to myself—what the fuck? Why should I give a shit what they think?
Kerouac (paraphrased