The City Has Left You Alone - Kevin Devine

Neurotic intellectual

Emotionally unavailable

You’re everything you think you should be

But the truth is unavoidable

And every choice intentional

Darling, I don’t mean to be mean

But you’re see-through as see-through can be

And when the party ends, you’re sweating in sheets

The city has left you alone

You cycle on fast-forward through

The strangers in your phone

And you re-record your voicemail

Find that perfect hollow tone:

«Hey, you’ve reached me, but what does that mean?

I don’t know.»

So run your risk and play your part

Hide away your hardened heart

And tuck yourself back into your shell

But is all that detached irony

That finely tuned delivery

Hurting more than it’s ever helped?

Are you fooling anyone but yourself?

Well, you’re the only one who can tell

Because the city has left you alone

In a Chelsea bar at closing time

Too wired to go home

When a street shark with a songbird rap

And a repertory brogue

Slurs, «C'mon love.

There ain’t no secret code

Are you thinking what I’m thinkin', yes or no?

Leave the mourning for the mornin', love.

Let’s go.»

You’re acting out the dead end of a theme

A cliche in a roundabout

Another person’s dream

It makes romantic copy but it’s not a life to lead

So roll your eyes and suck on your teeth

No, you don’t need to prove nothin' to me

But you’re the only one who knows what you need

The city has left you alone

Squinting at an address

With a car service on hold

You keep waiting on redemption

But isn’t waiting getting old?

You shut your eyes

The city clears its throat:

«On with the show.»