Joke In There Somewhere

[Verse 1] Each morning, my beloved asks me to open up my eyes See what kind of attention I could pay I see a corporate coffeehouse putting up their Christmas decorations Commuter cars all waiting at a light A line outside the Roxy full of hopeful conversation Some local band is playing there tonight A couple walks their dog discussing what to eat for dinner A runaway is being read his rights A hotel hosts a conference called "Investment for Beginners" Some high school coach is breaking up a fight [Chorus] But there's a joke in there somеwhere A joke in thеre somewhere A joke in there somewhere One that I am not prepared to make [Verse 2] This afternoon, my doctor had me sit down in a chair And he asked me then to walk him through my day And I heard radios bring ball games to an ancient glacial traffic A starving dog was whimpering in pain A sound check through the alley sounds like something close to magic For a traveling dad that's bound to miss his plane A boomer on a cell phone talking through party provisions Beneath the giant bullseye neon sign And I mention Dixie cups and pizza crust and giant televisions The allegory of the conga line [Chorus] There's a joke in there somewhere A joke in there somewhere A joke in there somewhere One that I just don't know how to tell [Verse 3] And now as the sun is setting, I meet my brother for a drink And he asks if I got something on my mind So I tell him 'bout this movie and how I didn't get the ending Why do they let the creature get away? He reminds me that all it is is costumes and pretending But there must be something else they're trying to say About these buildings and the asphalt and the natural habitations The pigeons, cats and rats and parasites This wild and dancing city conducting perfect orchestrations The way a stranger wishes us goodnight But he says every time we've sat here getting nervous for the future We've ended up some version of okay These songs that we are singing shouldn't give in to the rumors They should give some kind of strength to meet the day [Chorus] But there's a joke in there somewhere A joke in there somewhere A joke in there somewhere We just gotta find a way to laugh We just gotta find a way to laugh