John Appleseed’s Lament

I stepped out the front door into winter and the world outside
I stepped out the door to New York City
My hair was barely dry
I could not remember where I was going
So I went back inside

Nothing’s happening in the elevator
Nothing happening on the stairs
Nothing ever happens when I am sleeping
So I cannot stay there
How do you find the parties when you’re in your room?
How do you find the action?
Man, the action is everywhere

If you decide to climb outside your bedroom window
Paint a picture on a cloud
If you decide that you can’t hide inside
Your mind provides a slide to get you out
It feels just like you're falling when you're going down
But everybody loves you when you hit the ground

Well, I say a prayer, I say a prayer
I say a prayer to Pocahontas
I pray to John Appleseed
Oh, I cigarette the winter air
And then I Fred Astaire my way down 7th Street
Some chick yells, "Jesus loves me more than I know
But less than I need"

I parade down The Bowery to The Battery
And then I step off into the air
Point my sunglasses east toward Jerusalem
And then follow all the Pharaohs there
They’re building pyramids in Leicester Square
Driving in circles round the Circus til the circle’s in the air

My love says “Come on Adam
Tell me what the hell is wrong with you"
She says "Come on Adam
What the hell am I supposed to do?"
She says "I could love you, I could leave you
But I can't live w/what you put me through”

I call the wind Maria because I do not know her face
I call the endless sky Amelia
Because she stays with me from place to place
I call the sun my love Emmanuelle
Because she cradled me in her embrace

Nothing happening in the kitchen
Nothing happening on the floor
Nothing happening in my bed
But she don’t sleep there no more
How do you find the bottom when you’re in the air?
How do you find the circus?
Man, the circus is everywhere