Quiet Desperation

You're sitting on a milk crate mornin' noon and night
Fantisizin' the American dream
You're lookin' pretty good and you've got yourself convinced
That the nightmare isn't as bad as it seems
You try your best to hide yourself beneath your turned up collar
And a plastic bag is all you've got to show
And your books inside your shopping cart
Is probably the best education you're ever gonna know

The guy in the Mercedes is just hollered with the dollar
Better grab it 'cause the signal's turnin' green
And while you're at it, put the jug behind the picket fence
'Cause the cop that's drivin' by sho' looking mean
Institution, contribution, restitution, destitution
Doesn't mean a thing to you now
You're the freeway feature, for your audience are driving by
So maybe you should stand and take a bow

You're living in desperation
And you never have felt complete
You live in antecipation of another day on the street
Sing with me

You're sitting in that same spot you want to go home
But there ain't no home but home on the range
You've forgotten what you look like
And it looks like you've forgotten that
The look inside your eyes is very strange
Ain't nothing left to hide
You're stripped of all your pride
And all you feel inside is a hole a mile wide
You're the freeway desperado and a perfect living model
Of a land that hasn't any good excuse

You're living in desperation
And you never have felt complete
You live in anticipation of another day on the street
Sing with me

You're sitting on your milk crate
With your blanket wrapped around you
And I see you sittin' day after day
I'd really like to talk but I know if I approached
You'd probably get up and walk away
You wishing that your home of the American dream
Wasn't only smog and exhaust
I love you desperado and all I've got to say is
You let me know how much I'm really lost

You're living in desperation
And you never have felt complete
You live in anticipation of another day on the street
Sing with me

You're living in desperation
And you never have felt complete
You live in anticipation of another day on the street
Sing with me