Better Than Ezra:
Friction, Baby (lyrics)
(1996)

There’s an angel on the stairs
As if you’d even care
When the lights go up
And the sun has nearly gone down

Did you see him on the street?
Did you pass him at your feet?
Did you think aloud “How dare they
Even look me in the eye?”

And he loves the girls
And he loves the boys
Going to make the twenty dollars
Before the weekends over

So set him up 
Let him fall
Turn him over in your hands
God save the King of New Orleans

Got a ticket to a show
Going to see him take a blow
When the drunk one said
“Cat Sssstevens was the greatest singer!”

And did you kick him in the head?
Did you see the blood run down?
Did you laugh at all when the people
Walked right by and said aloud
“You gutter punks are all the same
Probably make twenty dollars before the weekends over.”

So set him up
Then let him fall
Turn him over in your hands
God save the King of New Orleans

Radio in my head
Radio in that car
Going down again
he’s going down again...

Anyway you look
Anyway you talk it over
It’s easier to let it slip out of your mind
But it rips your heart out
Then it kicks your head in
Just give him one more chance
Try to see the beauty in his world
All the way in on my hands
In on my feet and shoulders
Going to make twenty dollars before the weekends over

So set him up
Then let him fall
Turn him over in your hands
God save the King of New Orleans

God save the King of New Orleans

Cut a tape of my favorite songs
Said what I couldn’t face to face
I hoped that you would share all my thoughts
We are young and unimpressed
With all you’d recognize

So play it all over
Turn it wide
Now there is nothing but a 
Mix tape left behind
Now it won’t rewind

In my car we are superstars
Run your lipstick down your chin
While up ahead we saw such a crash
Right there a song became a soundtrack 
For this place in time

So play it all over
Turn it wide
Now there is nothing but a 
Mix tape left behind
Now it won’t rewind

Wonder is often lost
Jaded at such a cost
Time underestimates you when you close your eyes
We pass right by you

So play it all over
Turn it wide
Now there is nothing but a 
Mix tape left behind
Now it won’t rewind

Are you lost?
Do you find life turning out 
Not quite the way you planned?
Come around stay awhile 
That’s OK that’s alright
Couldn’t get to sleep so talk about it
Let’s talk about it right now

Here it comes on my head again
I guess I’m born to be the long lost friend
Long Lost Friend

Are you cold?
Is there no place better, safer, friendlier than this?
Call me up, I’m alone
That’s OK that’s alright
Rather it be me than go without it
So don’t think about it right now

Here it comes on my head again
I guess I’m born to be the long lost friend
Long lost friend

I’ve given ballast
Help you up when you were falling down
What happens when I’m not around?

Friend?
Long Lost Friend

Friend?
Friend?
Long Lost Friend

I still remember you dressed in gray
Working undercover for the CIA
You were cruising Silber living in Back Bay
Sailing on the Charles when I heard you say...

Let’s go down to Normal Town
Right now
Down, Down, down

I washed you lover and scrubbed your face
Running from Miss Porter’s you showed up one day
Form a flat in South End where you made me strong
You said “ We’re burning out at both ends”
So I came along

Let’s go down to Normal Town
Right now 
Down, Down, down

Hey! Wouldn’t it be great to never worry
About your future never asking why?
Hey! Hey? In a subdivision watching television
and our lives go by

Let’s go down to Normal Town
Let’s go down to Normal Town
Right now 
Down, down, down....

Strong hands 
Big plans
All reduced to this
Hard won Freedom
How could you have missed?

Scared are you?
You do it on your own
You did it all alone
We all did
Scared are you?
Half the lines we make up dear
The best that you can do

Everything you would be 
Passed you like a ghost
And kind words are scarce at best
When you need them most

Scared are you? 
You do it on your own
We all did
Scared are you?
Half the lines you make up here
The best that we can do

Hope brings you along
Doors open up
And if you should fall
I’ll catch you dear
It must be!
It must be!

Scared are you? 
Finally on your own
You did it all alone
We all did
Scared are you?
Half the lines you make up dear
The best that we can do
And we do

Ten cent lovers
Beneath the covers
Riding on a wet dream 
Silver tonic free

High stool sweet tarts
Equipped with green cards
Chomp their 401k’s 
Semi-chocolate brie

Digging in Los Cruces
For an army drab container
Carbon dated clothes
For the last time they were washed

Shelby and Sheila
Onomatopoeia
Catch hang nail on Banlon
Shiver Martin Sheen

Preschool mothers
In Technicolor
Are fire bombing Dresdon
Stanton, Harry Dean

Feeding line caught tuna
To a neutered Bodhisattva
Writhing peaches for the President
Out on the White House Lawn
Beating Herbert Hoover
With a leather tipped Pinada
Thorn and Katy drink the milk
Tinted Amerasian Green
RETURN, RETURN, RETURN

They say you’re off
A bit confused
But then the day is done
I’ll be with you
I like your eyes
They say you’re true
The others whisper and lie

And you framed the sun
Shot out the stars
You paled the sky
And hung the moon

They say “your loss”
That your mind’s diseased
But when you finally won
Tell me who always believed

And you framed the sun
Shot out the stars
You paled the sky
And hung the moon

Down way low
They never remember
Down way low
Down way low
You always remember
Don’t let the words you hear leave your head

They say you’re gone
That you left today
But if you change your mind
Know I still feel the same way

And you framed the sun
Shot out the stars
You paled the sky
And hung the moon

Past the road to your house
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you’ll never know

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately Wanting

When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills
You were never quite right
Deserving all the chills
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran
Then they ask what went wrong
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately Wanting

Kick them right in the face
Make them wish they weren’t born
And if they bring up your name 
Well they’ll say you won the war
Baby burst in the world
Never given a chance
Then they ask what went wrong
When you never had it right
No you never had it right

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately Wanting

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately Wanting

Oh the letters have dropped off
Though they say you got them all
I finally figured out some things you’ll never know

Take back your life
And let me inside
We’ll find the way door if you care to anymore

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring 
Desperately Wanting

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring 
Desperately Wanting

Everybody talking saying you will be walking
This neighborhood will never be the same
You said we’d understand
You found out what’s happening now
So we all sat down and you broke the news

Now daddy don’t love her anymore
It’s still life with Cooley
Now daddy don’t love her anymore
It’s just still life with Cooley

All your friends show on time
They come in bringing red wine
You said if it’s over then we’ll go in style
You better best take care keep one hand to your ear
So you’re not left hanging when they’re finally gone

Now daddy don’t love her anymore 
It’s still life with Cooley
Now daddy don’t love her anymore
It’s just still life with Cooley

Watcha’ saying?
You’re going to stay of at St. Madigan’s?
Reeled in again
You’re just fooling around fooling around

People hanging with their good friends
Listening to their old songs

Now daddy don’t love her anymore
It’s still life with Cooley
Now daddy don’t love her anymore
It’s just still life
It’s just still life with Cooley

WWOZ is on in stereo
A string of flowers haloed around your head
Candle light
Ceiling fan
Curtains blow away and back again
Back again
Don’t wake me, I think I’m in a dream

Sleeping is easy
I used to lay in bed for hours
I’ve waited a lifetime now maybe I’ll learn

Calling back and forth through heavy air
The barges sound their warnings in the dark
Peace comes like a trusted friend
As it starts to rain again fall away
Fall away
So don’t wake me I think I’m in a dream

Now sleeping is easy
I used to lay in bed for hours
I’ve waited a lifetime now maybe I’ll learn
Sleeping is easy
I used to walk the streets for hours
I’ve waited a lifetime now maybe I’ll learn

Let go of your fear 
Let’s grow old together
Find a place along the way
Let’s reel through the years
Each makes the other better
But what thoughts can I call allies
When this circle of ribs keeps working on its own?

Now sleeping is easy
I used to lay in bed for hours
I’ve waited a lifetime now maybe I’ll learn
Sleeping is easy
I used to walk the streets for hours
I’ve waited a lifetime now maybe I’ll learn

WWOZ’s on in stereo. 
Well it’s on in stereo

And though you will say I’m wrong
It’s much easier to say I’m wrong
Sundays were made for this
Seeing Bond give the villain a kiss...

Holding your face in the glow
Play on, play on
Happy Endings

I thought that you’d like to know 
I’m finally letting her go
You always said “Tell me when
You’re ready at last to begin”

Learning on chance it again
Play on, play on
Happy Endings

So let them all dissolve
And welcome a new resolve
Here’s where the credits run
Riding off into the sun

And love is real
Reading your eyes in the glow
Play on, play on
Happy Endings

If they calm you down
Then excite them
If they call you out
Then ignore them

You’re speeding up
You’re speeding up
To slow down

When they all believe
You reject it
When they all are for
Be against it

You’re speeding up
You’re speeding up 
To slow down

If they call you out
They will tear you down
When your world falls in
Then they’ll leave you dry

You’re speeding up
You’re speeding up
To slow down
Down, down, down

(Instrumental)