Speechless

It was August. Summer of '82.

You had that rusty old car

And me I had nothing better to do.

You picked me up. We hit the road. Baby me and you.

We shot out of town drivin' fast and hard.

Leaving our greasy skid marks in people's back yards.

We were goin' nowhere. Just driving around.

We were goin' in circles. And me I was just hanging on.

Like in that Annie Dillard book

Where she sees that eagle with the skull of a weasel

Hanging from its neck

And here's how it happened, listen.

Eagle bites the weasel. Weasel bites back.

They fly up to nowhere. Weasel keeps hangin' on.

Together forever.

We were goin' nowhere. Just driving around.

You did all the talking and me I didn't make a sound

If I open my mouth now I'll fall to the ground

If I could open my mouth. There's so much I would say.

Like I can never be honest. Like I'm in it for the thrill.

Like I never loved anyone. And I never will.

Eagle bites the weasel. Weasel bites back.

They fly up to nowhere. Weasel keeps hangin' on.

Together forever.

I remember that old coat my grandma used to wear

Made of weasels biting each other's tails

A vicious circle. An endless ride.

On the back of an old woman.

Eagle bites the weasel. Weasel bites back.

They fly up to nowhere. Weasel keeps hangin' on.

Together forever.

And me? I'm goin' in circles. I'm circling around.

And if I open my mouth now I'll fall to the ground.