The Hold Steady - Knuckles

i've been trying to get people to call me freddy knuckles
people keep calling me right said fred
it's hard to keep trying when half your friends are dying
it's hard to hold steady when half your friends are dead already
taxmen coming around the back with the kevlar vests
militia men cooking up a batch of crystal meth
there's a war going down in the middle west
there's a war going down in the middle western states
the kevlar vests against the crystal flakes

i've been trying to get people to call me freddy mercury
people keep calling me drop dead fred
it's hard to take it easy when half your friends are way too easy
it's hard to get ahead when half your friends are dead
taxmen coming around the back with the kevlar vests
militia men cooking up a batch of crystal meth
there's a war going down in the middle west
there's a war going down in the middle western states
the kevlar vests against the crystal flakes

his elbow was a spiderweb
with five spiders trapped inside
he said: the last guy didn't have to die
but the first four looked so nice
i wanted five
i've been trying to get people to call me sunny d
i've got the good stuff kids go for
people keep calling me five alive
because the last guy didn't really die
i just lied
and the first four didn't really die.
i just lied
too many kids are getting stabbed
getting tangled up in crabs.

i've been trying to get people to call me johnny rotten
people keep calling me freddy fresh
it's hard to take it easy when half your friends are looking way too easy
it's hard to stay in bed when half your friends are dead
taxmen coming around the back with the kevlar vests
militia men cooking up a batch of crystal meth
there's a war going down in the middle west
there's a war going down in the middle western states
white crosses and wooden stakes