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the ballad of san francisco

from let me drive by Everything in Pen

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lyrics

when we moved here we assumed that we could camp out at my friend's
but when she opened her front door
she said I'm leaving him
all his friends are meth heads, I'm afraid I am one too
I wouldn't stay here if you know what's good for you
I wouldn't stay here if you know what's good for you

so we're living in this dump although we try to make it nice
it always smells like onions, we can't figure out just why
and when it rains outside, you know it rains inside here too
don't tell the landlord, he'll evict us, then we're through
don't complain, we'll get evicted, then we're through

and this city is so beautiful but we cannot pay the rent
so we're doing jigsaw puzzles having not so casual sex
the fantasy is easy, the reality is grim
but i'm too proud to ask, I won't tell the state we're in

our christmas tree is cardboard
all the gifts are off our shelves
we found these dishes on the street
the sofa there as well
simplicity is wonderful when it's something that you choose
it super sucks when it shows up and chooses you
it just sucks when it shows up and chooses you

i'm temping at the hospital, I'm grateful for this job
I answer phones and file things
pretend I'm working hard
when they offer me a full-time gig I know I must resist
my student loans must be for something more than this
please god these loans must be for something more than this

and I say we walk for exercise
but we cannot buy the gas
and I say that we're in love
he's less sure that it will last
we've sold everything that's worth something
we're selling all that's not
san francisco, you have left me down and out
you seduce me, then you leave me down and out

and this city, it's so beautiful
but we cannot pay the rent
we did the jigsaw puzzles
once you left so did the sex
the fantasy is easy, the reality is grim
but I'm too proud to ask
I won't tell the state I'm in
I'm too proud to ask, I won't tell the state I'm in

credits

from let me drive, released April 30, 2010

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Everything in Pen San Francisco

Combining the pop sensibility of Big Star and narrative observations of Jonathan Richman and Aimee Mann, Everything in Pen’s songs cover many topics---war criminals, sexism, and Dave Eggers--through her unique lens as an obsessive reader. She sings the things you won’t say aloud, of the foolishness, the hopefulness and the almost unbearable humanness of us all. ... more

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