Happy Birthday, Johnny - St. Vincent

Remember one Christmas I gave you Jim Carroll

Intended it as a cautionary tale

You said you saw yourself inside there

Dog-eared it like a how-to manual

Remember one summer wealked in Times Square

I showed you the zombies with hundred-inch stares

You took a BIC, set your hotel on fire

We took the blame, took our bags to the train

Happy Birthday, Johnny

Wherever you are

Happy Birthday, Johnny

Wherever you are

The last time you called it was on New Years' Eve

You asked me for dough to get somethin' to eat

Since we last spoke, you live on the street

Yeah, I wouldn’t believe all the shit that you seen

Happy New Year, Johnny

Is it 23?

Happy New Year, Johnny

Are the lights on the trees?

I said, «Let me think,"and you yelled through your teeth

Accused me of actin' like all royalty

Always for show, no true charity

You saw me on magazines and TV

But they only knew the real version of me

Only you know the secrets, the swamp, and the fear

What happened to blood, our family?

Annie, how could you do this to me?

Of course, I blame me

When you get free, Johnny

I hope you find peace