[Verse 1]
I broke free on a Saturday morning
I put the pedal to the floor
I headed off on Mill’s avenue
And listen to the engine roar
My broken house behind me
And good things ahead
A girl named Cathy wants a little of my time
Six cylinders underneath the hood
Crashing and kicking
I listen to that engine whine
[Refrain]
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
[Verse 2]
I played video-games in a drunken haze
I was seventeen years young
When my knuckles punching the machines
Taste of scotch rich on my tongue
And then Cathy showed up, we hung out
Trading swigs from the bottle of bitter and clean
Locking eyes, holding hands
Twin high-maintenance machines
[Refrain]
And I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
[Verse 3]
I drove home in the California dusk
I could feel the alcohol inside me hum
Pictured the look on my stepfather’s face
I was ready for the bad things to come
I down-shifted as I pulled into the driveway
The motor screaming out, stuck in second gear
The scene ends badly, as you might imagine
In a cavalcade of anger and fear
[Bridge]
And there will be feasting and dancing in Jerusalem next year
[Refrain]
And I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
If it kills me
This Year was written by John Darnielle.
Shearwater released This Year on Tue Mar 18 2014.