Birdcage

Just got back from safari, cruisin' the urban cemetery
Back to my home of Christian severity
Rented a toothbrush and comb from the funeral home
We were playing leap frog, we were playing alone

We were touring the house ’cause the host likes to boast
Childhood clothing hanging from the bedpost
And puberty's ghost still lingers in here the most
We were drinking to catastrophe, we were piercing the toast

And he'd hole up in his room
Wouldn’t come down for days
Lofty aspirations for a man self-contained

And if you could see me up on the stage now
I wonder what you would say
Did it all for you, I totally adore you
Never meant to lead you astray
And if you could see me under the spotlight
I wonder what you would say
She works hard for the money, works hard for it, honey
Works hard just to throw it all away

What do you do when I'm on the stage?
What do you do when I'm on the stage?
What do you do when I'm killing myself up there
Every night, every day?

He'd hole up in his room
Wouldn't come down for days
Lofty aspirations for a bird in a cage