New Monkey (alternate lyrics)

Here comes the sidewalk boss again Telling me how I can't cave in Says I'm a study in black Need a pat on the back I look 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 I go in my car Straight to the bar Where my sweetie pours the beer 'Cause she always smiles When I appear He's in my ear Wants me to live in denial Says, "You've got to settle for something Though it might not be really living Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing" No half-dеad action man going to move in to take my place I'll bе pumping out the product Just to take up space Look at your hands unoccupied Look at the lengths you'll go to hide Still under the veil Pretending to fail Got a whole lot of empty time left to go Now you've got to fill it with something I know what you could do, don't you know Anything is better than nothing No half-dead modern man going to move in to take my place I'll be pumping out the product Just a total waste I'm not about Bitching you out Over how you spend your time That's your affair, not mine I'll go on home, to my imagination The only thing that's telling me something Better than your little equation Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing