What Qualifies as Silence

[Verse 1]
Didn't sign up for this
When I moved to the city
People talk all the time
All milk-mouthed and mindless

With the pulse of the club
And the shuddering subway
And the folks making love
In the unit above me

And the cries of the kids
Through the wires of your window
And the hiss of the heat
And the sizzling streetlight

And the cars passing by
On the highway behind it
And the hum of the fridge
As we spin in the kitchen

[Chorus]
Qualifies as silence
The closest I can find

[Verse 2]
Used to play in a band
Back when you were a grandchild
Just some friends drinking beer
Y’know - nothing too serious

Had a couple good songs
But you can barely recall ‘em
Though you weren't one to tour
Got some lucky support slots

But when you walked on that stage
Started acting all strange-like
And you’d peel back your eyes
Press ‘em against the amplifiers

And you’d stretch out your lip
Hold it up to the cymbals
Till you noticed the sound
Getting louder and louder

[Chorus]
Qualifies as silence
The closest I can find

[Verse 3]
Tucked away from the road
Far from all that commotion
No more sirens at night
Just the wind in the pine trees

And the moon on the lake
And the droning cicadas
But on my quietest night
That's when my memories find me

All the words that I said
Words I later regretted
And the love that we made
And the love that I wasted

See my dad in his chair
And the soil where he's buried
And the men that I trust
And the room where they touch me

[Outro]
Qualifies as silence
The closest I can find
This qualifies as silence
The closest I can find