Hey, wasn't anyone listening

To the words in that last song?

They limped out of his mouth

Like wounded beasts shambling

To their ancestral death grounds?

Or hold. Perhaps I've gone too far

True, his delivery's akin to a sopping wet kazoo

But I'm here with you

So this night's been upgraded to

A standard-issue guilty pleasure

The rhythm of the hospital

(Run around, run around until these errands are done)

Departs so slowly from us now

(Come around, come around to this one)

Heads pump to serviceable beats

The music threatening to speak to me

It's letters vs. numbers

When you turn to me and laugh so loud

You drop your battered crutches to the ground

It's letters vs. numbers

And I fear I'm on every side

You, in the years I've been around

You've skirmished with death

And defeated it somewhat

Though it does creep back through tiny cracks

That have been left unattended

So, though it's vanquished once again

Sometimes the most harmless things

Adopt a sinister resonance

But let this doubt be balanced out

With recognition of its absence

The rhythm of the hospital

(Run around, run around until these errands are done)

Departs so slowly from us now

(Come around, come around to this one)

Cards lining on the windowsills

Obscure the phalanx of impending bills

It's letters vs. numbers

When the meniscus of our cheapest wine

Drops below a certain line

It's letters vs. numbers

And I feel I'm on every side

I watched cartoons on hospital TVs

With academic solemnity

It's letters vs. numbers

Now you're asleep between familiar walls

I feel the sweet math of your pulse

It's letters vs. numbers

I'm on every side

It's letters vs. numbers