I'm A Mess

I'm A Mess - Rodney Crowell/Mary Karr

Once in a while I can feel

The whole world spinning

My hair twist in the wind

I can't find the brake

The clock on the

Dashboard is coiled like a snake

There's years flying by me

And a wide open cliff

On wheels made of lightning

Just barely a blip

If there's room at the

Top for a loser look out

The radio's blasting

A mean twist and shout

I'm a mess at times like these

A man should take a

Blind-fold and smoke

Take a walk take a drive

Take a kneel take a dive

Take a month take a year

Take a hike disappear

Take it on faith

Whatever you get

You just close your eyes

It won't hurt a bit

The firing squad's gathered

The Captain grins

All the change in my pocket

Won't pay for my sins

I'm a mess when I woke up

They'd strapped me in an MRI

Black dye in my veins

Head Velcro-ed down

Foam happy slippers

And a blue paper grown

The banging went on

For an hour or more

Then they slipped me

Out like a boat onto shore

The technician with coffee

Was sporting a smile

That said God gave me

Wisdom but the devil's got style

I'm a mess nothing less

I confess I'm a mess

Now I live in NY

The Babylon of neon fire

The rats on the third

Rail is smoking like char

The thunder storm hits

And I flag down a car

On the screen in Times Square

I look like a wreck

And we lunge out of traffic

Tricking down through the spec

The hooded girl turns

And says "Look at who's alive"

I say "Boy you can't scare me

Just shut up and drive"

I'm a mess oh god yes

I confess I'm a mess I'm a mess