tupelo (song)

the ghost spread his hands
over my neck
and said i was better off dead

but he's got no right
to tell me what will satisfy
when his voice smells like dried wine

i'm singer
and i'm a thief
i'm always on the grind
all the things
that i wish for
may never be mine

and i'll lie
and i'll gamble
away all of my dimes
but i'll tell
the girl i love her
and kiss her sometime

when the ghost bared his teeth
i ran for the golden plains
but i came home when i realized
i couldn't run away

now the moon sleeps so close
it's the fortune in my hands
but i'd give it all away to run with her again

and i'll lie
and i'll gamble
away all of my dimes
but i'll tell
the girl i love her
and kiss her sometime

so let's call
ourselves poets
and make it all sound sweet
as a lily
in her hair
her lip between her teeth