A Dead Man's Vest - Wayne Kramer

Sometimes i think about my father

Empty shadow that he was

Running out on me like he did

Fucking up my only life

But then i don’t know the influences

And pressures that he was under

What his trip was

I hear he was a drinker

So i’m a little hard-pressed

In a black leather jacket

And a dead man’s vest

Found his ass after 30 years

Of being misplaced

Called him on the phone

He was pretty cool.

But the cancer had him

Said he heard i was some

Kind of musician

Surprised, «i can’t carry a tune in a bucket», he says.

I had a lot to get off my chest

In a black leather jacket and a dead man’s vest.

It was like talking to a ghost

Or some kind of past-life regression

Hypnotherapy new-age shit.

He was very gracious.

He did not complain

And he did not confess.

And i’m in a black leather jacket

And a dead man’s vest.

You should of been there

You should of been there for me.

Last time we talked

He was very ill

I said, «you don’t sound so good.»

He said, «son, you win some,

You lose some.»

And died

Made a striking figure lying in his box.

Whole town came to pay

Their respects.

They said he was a good man.

I barely knew him.

I’m sitting with his widow

And he’s gone to rest

And i’m in my black leather jacket

And my father’s vest

I’m a little pissed off these days

About death in general

This is a mean world to try and live in

And there are no winners in this test

And i’m getting weary of

Digging out my black leather jacket

And my funeral vest

My black leather jacket

A new pair of shoes

And a dead man’s vest

«the boys got that look in their eyes»

(farren/kramer)

Strange television distortion

Rumors of things in the skies

Dogs start in howling

Cops are out prowling

And the boys got that look in their eyes

The good guys cutting and running

The bad guys are telling the lies

And the girl dressed in lace

Has a smile on her face

And the boys got that look in their eyes

The boys got that look

The boys got that look

The boys got that look in their eyes

Too delicately balanced for comfort

One jolt and everyone fries

Poised for the fall

It’s anyone’s call

And the boys got that look in their eyes

No mistake, something is coming

The tension cuts like a scythe

You better beware

Hellfire in the air

And the boys got that look in their eyes