sprawl

it's the sprawl that makes us feel alive
from venice to van nuys
the hour-long drives

and you'll try to move up north--take the five
escape this hollywood life
and the warm nights

maybe a few more riots -- real firecrackers
we'll blow off my hand if i don't run faster
a sharp crack and bright lights
like bullets through plaster

it's all chutes no ladders
empty job and half-glass
and thoughts are scattered
from hope to panic
(from things that matter)
nothing much matters to me

my girls a crop transplanted from a place
no desert sun and lots of rain
they whither here in LA

and i drove down to mexico the other day
baja's east coast made me say
this is the right way

they make do with what they have here: cobblestone streets
i'm looking in the mirror and i think, so do we

street sides with high palm trees
and santa ana makes it hard to breathe

wiretap

the birds on the telephone wires
listen to our conversations
through the silent vibrations
at their feet they hear our shouts and our pleas.

and it's not because they are startled
when they fly up and away
they've just heard us fighting all day
i'm jealous -- they don't have to stay.

we've been fighting for a while
but that's these birds' whole life
with only us to learn from
three years must seem about right.

i guess life is creating problems
for ourselves to solve one-by-one
so i'm just keeping you occupied
until we're done, dead and gone.

so for now i'll know someone's listening to me
for now i'll know they're listening to me
for now i know someone's listening to me
for now i know you're listening to me.