[Verse 1]
See the old man on the bridge
He's hauling up a sagging net
It's full of eels twisting through
The eye sockets of a horse's head
And this fiend has no family
So he will outlive you and me
[Verse 2]
In the hospital you talked about
Thumbing down that truck ride for the first time
And the false friend kept his back turned!
That's when you learned the fierceness of man
Again, again, again!
How long it took to reach the Sister Cities
And then somehow make it back
Just to tell me, "Yeah, I guess I'm still pretty mad."
[Hook 1]
Every other day, the same
Long road to the old man down the street
Neither one of you knows
What the flowers in your hand are supposed to mean
Red flowers against your, red flowers against your
Painted shut window
[Bridge]
Help! My uncle's gone insane!
In his room he sits shaking a geranium!
Outside, the old dog resigned
Leaves heavy tracks for the father dragging the rifle to find
[Hook 2]
Every other day, the same
Long road to the old man down the street
Do you think someday, through all the flowers
Your eyes finally will meet?
Where he'll tell you
"Honey, you know I had to shoot that dog you loved so much
You know I had to do it
"Aw, honey you know I had to shoot that dog you loved so much
You know I had to do it."
"Oh yeah, I know you had to shoot that dog I loved so much!
I know you had to do it!"