Chinese Blues
Travis
Ode To J. Smith (2008)

The snow was falling on his shoulders by the side of the road
And he watched as the sun went down
Falling on the buildings
Swallowing the children

It’s the gun in your back
It’s the heart attack
It’s the way you look back before you step out
In time to see the number of the bus that’s running you down

A million lonely people with their head in the sand
Trying to make some sense of what they don’t understand
Waiting on somebody just to give them a hand

You’re designed to fall apart on the day the warranty ends
And you try but it just can’t start
Running round in circles
Knocking over hurdles

It’s the knife in your back
It’s the heart attack
It’s the way you look back before you step out
In time to see the shadow of the one that’s cutting you down

A million lonely people with their head in the sand
Trying to make some sense of what they don’t understand
Waiting on somebody just to give them a hand

The snow was falling on his shoulders by the side of the road
And he watched as the lights came on below
And the children were sleeping
And the women were weeping
There was nobody keeping him here.