John Appleseed's Lament

I stepped out the front door into winter and the world outside

I stepped out the door to New York City

My hair was barely dry

I could not remember where I was going

So I went back inside

Nothing’s happening in the elevator

Nothing happening on the stairs

Nothing ever happens when I am sleeping

So I cannot stay there

How do you find the parties when you’re in your room?

How do you find the action?

Man, the action is everywhere

If you decide to climb outside your bedroom window

Paint a picture on a cloud

If you decide that you can’t hide inside

Your mind provides a slide to get you out

It feels just like you're falling when you're going down

But everybody loves you when you hit the ground

Well, I say a prayer, I say a prayer

I say a prayer to Pocahontas

I pray to John Appleseed

Oh, I cigarette the winter air

And then I Fred Astaire my way down 7th Street

Some chick yells, "Jesus loves me more than I know

But less than I need"

I parade down The Bowery to The Battery

And then I step off into the air

Point my sunglasses east toward Jerusalem

And then follow all the Pharaohs there

They’re building pyramids in Leicester Square

Driving in circles round the Circus til the circle’s in the air

My love says “Come on Adam

Tell me what the hell is wrong with you"

She says "Come on Adam

What the hell am I supposed to do?"

She says "I could love you, I could leave you

But I can't live w/what you put me through”

I call the wind Maria because I do not know her face

I call the endless sky Amelia

Because she stays with me from place to place

I call the sun my love Emmanuelle

Because she cradled me in her embrace

Nothing happening in the kitchen

Nothing happening on the floor

Nothing happening in my bed

But she don’t sleep there no more

How do you find the bottom when you’re in the air?

How do you find the circus?

Man, the circus is everywhere