Wildebeests (live)

Y'know, tonight I'm thinking about the survivors

Y'know, like the wildbeest, you know those animals. They've got those faces like Abraham Lincoln. And they're the ones galloping in all the prehistoric cave paintings. And there are millions of them. And they're running, running, oh yeah, they're survivors

And out on the Wild West. You've seen this movie before. Four lone cowboys on their skinny ponies, ride the range. And suddenly up over the ridge, a thousand Indians rise up around the edge of the plateau, like they came out of nowhere. And there are only four cowboys. But the cowboys look at the Indians, and they say: "Let's get 'em."

Oh, beauty in all its forms. And hopefulness too. John Wayne begat Clint Eastwood, begat Bruce Willis, begat Brad Pitt and so on

Okay, cut! Action!

And you know, when people try to help me at the airport, I say: "Hey! Does it look like I need your help?!"

Ah, I'm a crocodile, floating down the river. I'm a tree, catching my own oranges as they fall from my head. Got a cigarette?

A world where we fulfill all our illusions

And hello to all the people who sent me on the way. A pat on the back. 'Have fun, it's your moment now. It's your turn to walk along the runway road.' And me – I sent my better self on ahead

Your attention please

And let's not forget the people who need extra time for boarding. The glacial family. The ones who are just slow. Always dropping their sweaters and other stuff on their way down the aisle

Or Noah, counting his animals. Secure in the knowledge that everybody except for him is about to drown. Yeah, forces came, and they ground him down into a fine powder. Seen as an act of God. As in a contract. Something completely unforseeable. Capricious. Un-thought-of. Abominable. To be God's lover

All the state of the empire. The little smile I wore all day. I don't need it anymore. The vampires, the umpires, the experts with their skyscraper depressions. And their curious gods. Why wow them now, with yet another lonely sunset? The empire looks like this

My former friends