Desert Island Questionnaire Lyrics

Lyric discussion by christinemunn 

Cover art for Desert Island Questionnaire lyrics by Conor Oberst

the lyrics posted above are wrong. here are the correct lyrics, per the album liner notes.

Say that you were stranded on a desert island What books you going to bring what friends would tag along? Say you had a month you knew you were dying How’d you spend your time what goodbyes would take too long? You don’t like this game and you take exception Who wants all this trouble even hypothetical? With the charging sky above And the ground below that could swallow everyone

Staring at your phone at another party Spent a lot on clothes got a lot of skin to show People in the pool like a drowning army The smoke alarm emotes and the hotel lobby glows Wish that you could dance but you got no partner Keep tapping on your glass ‘cause you want to make a toast To the ennui of our times To the selfishness in everyone you know

Made a lot of friends but they can’t be trusted don’t know what their angle is Post up at the bar and I’m double fisting talking to a mannequin Don’t know what he means when he takes my pulse and says that I’m a lot like him I say, “That’s fair enough, that’s why I’m trying to loosen up”

Every lunatic must be well-intentioned Sets himself apart he’s an instrument of God Took her from the playground to the farmhouse cellar Kissed while he killed her like a good Samaritan

Finally found her body many autumns after Interviewed her mother said she’d now be twenty-one And although we lost her young I know the Good Lord has a plan for all of us

Mormons at the door they look clean and handsome always have a good sales pitch Your little sister swears she can paint my aura but I can’t take her serious Need something to blame for this human nature is that what this condition is? I’m so bored with my life, but I’m still afraid to die

Everyone’s asleep in this burning building and I can’t wake them up in time You go on ahead I’ll be right behind you we’re headed to the finish line I can’t get closer till this is over

Pretend that you were stranded on a desert island What would be the message that you’d spell out for the plane? Say the engine failed when that plane was flying If you were the pilot would you curse or would you pray? No one’s gonna cry at this John Doe funeral Not a lot to say didn’t even have a name Light a candle just in case he was someone’s friend Throw some flowers on the grave