New Monkey

New Monkey

Here come the sidewalk boss again
Telling me how I can't cave in;
That I'm a study in black,
Need a pat on the back
I looked up and smile
A picture of dissatisfaction
That he can only see as a junkie.
Though I might be straight as an arrow,
He's busy shaking hands with my monkey,
Busy shaking hands with my monkey.

Well i go in the car,
Straight to the bar
Where my sweetie pours the beer
For the millions of fans ignoring the bands
He's in my ear,
Wants me to live in denial,
Says you've gotta settle for something
Though it might not be really living,
Anything is better than nothing,
Anything is better than nothing.

No actor action man gonna move in to take my place,
I'll be pumping out the product
Just a total waste.

Look at your hands unoccupied
Look at the lengths you'll go to hide
You're under the veil,
Pretending to fail.
Gotta whole lot of empty time left to go
Now you've gotta fill it with something;
I know what you can do, don't you know,
Anything is better than nothing.

No actor action man gonna move in to take my place,
I'll be pumping out the product
Just a total waste.

I'm here with my cup,
Afraid to look up,
This is how i spend my time,
Lazin' around, head hangin' down;
Stuck inside my imagination,
Busy making something from nothing.
Pictures of hope and depression,
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing.

~Elliott Smith