Selling Rope (Swan Dive to Estuary) [2023 Remaster]

As I swan dive into the estuary, the birds do not flinch at my fall
They perch in the rafters, before, during, after
They do not notice me at all

As I float down into the estuary, wind cases my body in cool
I smell petrol fumes, see the smoke rise in plumes
The earth is one big fireball
The earth is one big fireball

Anecdote, lie
My own alibi
I've been telling jokes
Piled notes high
My own alibi
I've been selling rope

As I break the film of the estuary
The seaweed submerges my form
No passing cars stop, not a single jaw drops
As my wallet and keys sink before
A splash all I left in the world

Anecdote, lie
My own alibi
I've been telling jokes
Piled notes high
My own alibi
I've been selling rope

Once held a magpie in the palm of my hand
And the blood in our veins flowed faster, as I'd planned
Got a heart full of love and a head full of more
But a fist full of threads from the seams
And I saw a smile in that beak

Anecdote, lie
My own alibi
I've been telling jokes
Piled notes high
My own alibi
I've been selling rope

Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Anecdote, lie, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been telling jokes)
Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Piled notes high, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been selling rope)

Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Anecdote, lie, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been telling jokes)
Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Piled notes high, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been selling rope)

There's no ticker-tape, no pearly gates
(Anecdote, lie)
No carnival and no parade
(My own alibi)
Just one, one for sorrow
(I've been telling jokes)
There's no ticker-tape, no pearly gates
(Piled notes high)
No carnival and no parade
(My own alibi)
Just one, one for sorrow
(I've been selling rope)