Lyric discussion by dollylectric 

Cover art for Water And A Seat lyrics by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

I think it's: "If madness comes so much the better to shake"

I also find it hilarious that someone tried to transcribe the gibberish in after the "Tennyson and politics" line. For me he really just purposely gibberish... this is a song about inviting madness and in... sometimes meaninglessness has more meaning - you just have to go with it.

If madness comes so much the better to shake!