Common Knowledge - Conor Oberst

He’s my friend but he’s no friend to me

Ask him why and he’ll tell you casually

Washed up, bitter, broke and busted

Backstabbed everyone he trusted

Says he sees what no one else can see

And if I had half his guts I’d want it

To chase that fatalistic comet

And die young in the dark — that’s poetry

But it was not to be

It was not for me

He’s always sad but I’ve never seen him cry

When he comes to sure he’ll apologize

Find his car assess the damage

Still drunk but he likes a challenge

Holds onto his mind just like a kite

But a good strong wind will keep you honest

Fill you with some common knowledge

Things when we were young we never tried

Just figured we had time with such a long life

Money clips and alligator shoes

One more dance and he’s in that champagne room

Where she moves like a chocolate fountain

Pouring, spilling all around him

Makes him wonder what else she could do

How bittersweet is love’s illusion

Feelings that cannot be proven

Trust me you’ll see my aim is true

I did this all for you

I’ve suffered long for you

So many times he tried to play it straight

Worked and worked until his body ached

But a brand new life can lose its luster

Troubles tend to find each other

Call it luck or you can call it fate

But either way it’s how it happened

Not the life that you imagined

So just go out with a bang like Hemingway

Some will say you’re brave

Some will say you ain’t