The Will Of The River

Tore out the map of California
Drew it on my arm with a ballpoint pen
All the ideas they try and pawn ya
You can choose your place just like your own patch of skin

It’s so hard loving somebody when there’s
Something inside me
That pulls my arm, I’ll stay steady just as long
As I’m able to be

Not far from here I was delivered
Grew up making promises with my fingers crossed
I’d go and stare into the river
Learn the art of moving on at anyone’s cost

You’ll understand it from a distance
A shiny silver line all squiggly and bent
Chooses the path of least resistance
Flows under the heaviness of its own intent

It’s so hard loving somebody when there’s
Something inside me
That pulls my arm, I’ll stay steady just as long
As I’m able to be

Taunt me, want me, just never try to haunt me
A restless ghost already wears my body like a glove
Tend me, bend me, just never try to mend me
It’s the only way that I know how to love

My heart it hangs inside me heavy
It beats and keeps some kind of dark secret time
It’s quiet when I’m by the levee
Watch the swirling rainbows of the factory slime

The flattest stones and mammoth bones
Fossils for children scavenging on the banks
Like it much better when alone
When they ask me to play I just say I’m okay, thanks

It’s so hard loving somebody when there’s
Something inside me
I’ll stay calm, I’ll stay steady just as long
As I’m able to be