Visiting Hours

We always said we’d die for rock and roll
But you didn’t mean it and I didn’t mean so slow
We thought we’d both go out in some blue fireball of awesome, not watching moonlight drooling down the wall
Nodding to some pleasant absentminded nurse’s song
Wretched and catchy as a yawn

You were there but you were barely there at all
Like the paused fireworks of the trees in the fall
From the waiting room to the wailing wall
Visiting hours are over in east St. Paul

When I searched your place as per our deal
To burn the stash before your kin descend to steal
I found your letter trying to leave your flying V to me
Drolly addressed to the guitar
My favorite part read “You won’t have to be alone, guitar
Anymore than all of us are”

You were there but you were barely there at all
Like the paused fireworks of the trees in the fall
From the waiting room to the wailing wall
Visiting hours are over in east St. Paul

Not to put a damper on adieu
Heaven knows how much hell meant to you
But go tell Tchaikovsky to tell that old electrocardiogram the news
Doc says he’ll be damned you’re pulling through
You son of a bitch you
You’re gonna pull through
I swear I knew that

You were there when you were barely there at all
Let the paused fireworks loose a blue fireball
Through the waiting room to the wailing wall
Visiting hours are over in east St. Paul

We always said we’d die for rock and roll