Torn between the lure of a belly-full existence
In the candlelight, within my lover's arms
Where all is safe and all is well and all is warm
And then the stifling head, upon the sleeping streets
Where children go down without a trace
In rows of ten, with gappy teeth and their beautiful faces
And I can fetch me an axe and I can fell me a tree
And you can take a pan of sand but I can carry three
I can flick you pennies, if you'll only laugh for me
It keeps you young and it keeps you free, they said
When you're walking a thin line between the quick and the dead
I have sat like stone, buried in my riches
And I've got two amazing diamonds where my eyes should be
And I've got strips of sterling silver for a tongue
And I never stand to protest or shout against injustice
Cos my arse is made of marble and I've got lead instead of lungs
I am a stunning work of are, I should be hung
And they dance on grand pianos in a honey sweet hotel
In my mind entrenched a wave of sense my skin remembers still
And with an automatic flash I've brought them half-way round the world
And they're camping in my garden of remembrance
And I can fetch me an axe and I can fell me a tree
And you can take a pan of sand but I can carry three
I can flick you pennies, if you'll only laugh for me
It keeps you young and it keeps you free, they said
When you're walking a thin line between the quick and the dead